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Financial assistance

Apart from the financial assistance available through government departments, such as WINZ - there are also a number of funds the RNZFB administers that may provide additional support to members. They include:

Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund

History

The Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund is a trust fund operated under the umbrella of the RNZFB. It was established in 1923 from the proceeds of a public appeal for funds to aid both civilian and war blinded persons. The Fund was named in memory of the publisher Sir Arthur Pearson, who was the founder of St Dunstan's in the United Kingdom.

Objectives

The original conditions of the Fund were published in 1923 and have been amended on several occasions since then. Its main objectives remain to provide for the aftercare of blind and vision-impaired individuals and to improve the quality of life experienced by members of the Foundation.

Contact the Pearson Fund Administrator for a statement of the objectives of the Fund.

The Trustees have agreed to focus on providing assistance to:

  • Meet the additional financial costs of blindness (i.e. those direct financial costs incurred by a blind person, that are not ordinarily incurred by a person who is not blind), and
  • Enhance members' rehabilitation, habilitation and personal development needs.

The Fund does not provide assistance to meet the ordinary costs of daily living or welfare.

The Pearson Fund operates as a "fund of last resort". This means that:

  • Applicants are required to make reasonable use of personal, family and community resources, before seeking assistance from the Fund.
  • the Fund will not usually provide assistance where this is seen as the normal responsibility of another agency.

Applications

Before an application is submitted to the Fund, applicants investigate funding from other agencies. Applications can be received from registered members of the RNZFB, parents or caregivers on behalf of RNZFB members, or legally constituted organisations of or for blind persons.

What difference does the Fund make?

Through its equipment subsidy programme the Fund is able to subsidise the cost of various items sold through Equipment Services.

The Fund has been able to assist members with grants towards the cost of various equipment items, spectacles and some personal development courses.

The equipment rental programme provides a way in which members of the Foundation of the Blind can acquire closed circuit televisions for reading via magnified text, adaptive software, computer packages and various braille computer items. Currently there are around 550 equipment leases administered by the Fund.

More information

Contact the Pearson Fund Administrator on (09) 355 6861, 0800 24 33 33, or email: pearson.

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Henderson Fund

This is a special fund established by the late Mr C. W. Henderson of Wellington. It is administered by its own trustees and is able to make grants in the Wellington region. Address applications to Ms Karen Billings, 15B Caesars Place, Churton Park, Wellington. Mark applications clearly "For the attention of the Henderson Fund trustees."

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Kindred Sharp Children's Trust

Endowed to the RNZFB, this trust provides grants to children up to the age of twelve, who have been blind before reaching their second birthday. Grants go towards computer and other special equipment, and for lessons for parents to learn to communicate with blind children.

  • To apply, contact administrator Dianne Armstrong on 0800 24 33 33, or email:kindredsharp.
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Oppenheim Tertiary Education Trust Fund

Founded by Dr and Mrs Oppenheim in November 1989, the purpose of the Trust is to provide assistance to vision-impaired people who are in or are about to enter tertiary education. Students must be registered members of the RNZFB. Due to the high level of requests priority will be given to school leavers.

Applications are now invited from registered members of the Foundation. The closing date for applications is the 15th January 2007 with disbursements to successful applicants early February 2007.

  • To apply, contact administrator Barbara Haddock on 0800 24 33 33, or email: oppenheim.
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