Partnership feature - Red Cross

SAFE TRANSPORT FOR NEW REFUGEE CHILDREN PROVIDED THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RED CROSS AND FIFESHIRE FOUNDATION 

Fifeshire Foundation has made sure that babies and young children migrating to Nelson will be able to travel safely as soon as they arrive into the region with a donation of three car seats to Red Cross Pathways to Settlement as part of the local refugee settlement programme.  

Purchased through a partnership Fifeshire Foundation has with local company Baby on the Move, the brand new car seats will be used when meeting refugees at Nelson Airport on arrival and will allow volunteers to transport families to their new home straight from the Airport and to all other outings. The car seats will be used for multiple families, over several years.  

Each year, Nelson welcomes over 100 refugees from many parts of the world, with the help of a team of Red Cross volunteers who assist refugees to set up their new rented home, enrol in English Language classes and schools, shop for quotes and essential items, attend banking and government department appointments and go on outings to the beach, library and playgrounds.  

“When Red Cross contacted us to partner with them, we were really thrilled to extend our help to these new members of our community,” Fifeshire Foundation’s Kaiwhakahaere Shanine Hermsen says. “Not only do we get to help these families right away when they arrive, the best part about this partnership is that the car seats will be used for multiple families, over several years – a gift that keeps on giving!” 

Red Cross Volunteer Programme Lead Pathways to Settlement Ngaia Richardson from Red Cross says “We are so grateful to the Fifeshire Foundation for their support to ensure our Refugees can travel safely with our volunteers.” 

Fifeshire Foundation is a local charity that provides support through grants to people facing hardship in our community. To find out more about how to support Fifeshire Foundation’s mission of locals looking out for locals visit www.fifeshirefoundation.co.nz or contact info@fifeshirefoundation.co.nz 

If you would like to know more about becoming a Red Cross Refugee Support volunteer or would like to donate vouchers to our Settlement programme please contact Ngaia Richardson, Volunteer Programme Lead Pathways to Settlement at ngaia.richardson@redcross.org.nz