Te Pou o te Whare Program.

Special Friends believe every child should have the opportunity to participate in sport regardless of their circumstances. With over 600 tamariki and rangitahi in care in Christchurch alone, these young people are often missing out on playing sport as they often face the greatest barriers of all.

Special Friends is working with Oranga Tamariki, Sport Canterbury and Origin Sport to remove the barriers for these children through the Te Pou o te Whare program. Each child referred by their social worker is matched with a Special Friends sports mentor who provides the encouragement and support required for each child to engage in sporting activities.

This program gives tamariki the opportunity to try a range of different sports including:

When a child develops an interest in a particular sport, Special Friends will then liase with an appropriate club and coach to enrol the child in that sport in the community. The childs mentor will continue to provide the support they need to be able to fully participate in their chosen sport.

For more information on the Te Pou o Te Whare Program please visit the following links:

Link to Sport Canterbury Video:

Link to Sport Canterbury Article: