Our local communities Funds

Donations to the Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato support disabled people and their families, and provide scholarships to the University of Waikato.

The Gemini Trust was set up in 1995 to support the work of CCS Disability Action Waikato, the local branch of New Zealand’s largest disability support and advocacy organisation. CCS Disability Action supports disabled people 0-65 years old, with impairments of any type.

The Trust was wound up in 2023 and its mission to fund local disability support is now carried out by the ‘Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato’ (FCDAW) at Momentum Waikato.

Investment income from the Fund goes to CCS Disability Action Waikato to help enable its tailored support for disabled people across the region, and to provide scholarships for disabled people to attend The University of Waikato.

The work of CCS Disability Action Waikato makes a huge difference in the lives of disabled people and their whaanau across the Waikato, Coromandel and King Country.

One person who the organisation supports is Matthew Slone (pictured above), someone who, in his dad David’s words, “spreads joy.”

“Matthew is an incredibly cheerful, friendly person, and that friendliness is contagious,” said David.

The 31-year-old has a learning disability and has been supported by CCS Disability Action’s Waikato branch for around 10 years. He is also employed as a caretaker at the local branch, work he enjoys.

Matthew has a small team of Support Workers who spend time with him each weekday morning and help him to live independently. Every day holds something different. As well as working at CCS Disability Action, he enjoys a regular cycling session and connecting with friends.

He and his Support Workers also tackle his slightly less fun, but necessary, ‘life admin’. That includes things like meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, cleaning, and washing.

It is perhaps Matthew’s volunteer work assisting with swim training at Special Olympics that gives him the most meaning. The sport has long been a passion, ever since he first dipped his toes in the pool when he was seven years old, and he won a gold medal at the 2015 Special Olympics World Championships. Matthew does it because he wants to give back.

This wrap-around support has in part been enabled by the support the Gemini Trust has provided to CCS Disability Action Waikato over the years – from 1995 to 2022 it passed across over $1 million. This funding is now provided by the Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato.

Do you, or your business or organisation, want to support the day-to-day lives of disabled people across the Waikato by helping to grow the income that provides tailored support to enable independence and choice in their lives? Do you want to help disabled people build their futures by attending the University of Waikato?

If you do, please donate to the Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato.