Driving Connection: NZCT Fuels TalkLink’s Mission to Empower Communication

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded Christchurch’s TalkLink Trust | Wahanga Tū Kōrero a grant of $10,000 towards the purchase of service delivery vehicles, helping the team reach more clients in need of specialist communication support across Canterbury and beyond.

Wayne Ferguson, CEO and spokesperson for TalkLink Trust, explains the impact,

“Whether it's helping a child express their first sentence or enabling an adult to reconnect with loved ones after injury or illness, TalkLink’s work is all about restoring mana, voice, and choice – one person at a time.”

The new pool vehicles are critical for delivering face-to-face support to people with complex communication needs, many of whom live in remote areas or are unable to leave home. TalkLink clinicians travel thousands of kilometres annually to provide assessments, install equipment, and deliver training and ongoing support across the wider South Island.

“Pool cars aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity,” says Ferguson. “Without them, many clients would miss out on the tools and services they need to participate in daily life.”

The outcomes speak for themselves, from a child with autism learning to make meal requests independently, to a woman in residential care rediscovering her voice through a story app, to a boy finally able to tell his mum he had a sore tooth.

NZCT’s GM of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges adds, “Everyone deserves a chance to be heard and have the tools to take part in everyday life in their community. Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnerships we share with our South Island venues.”