This spring, we teamed up with KidsCan to bring communities together through play, purpose, and partnership. Two charities aligned in values and purpose came together to strengthen their impact through joint initiatives that support thriving communities.
KidsCan’s Handball-a-thon invited schools, workplaces, and community groups across New Zealand to rally together and raise funds that support children living in hardship. Both organisations share a vision of empowering young people and strengthening communities, and through this initiative, we combined forces to deliver real impact.
During the October school holidays, The Y North hosted three major Handball Activation Events across Auckland and Hamilton:
• The Y North Shore - Wednesday 1st October
• The Y Hamilton - Thursday 2nd October
• The Y Massey - Friday 3rd October
Each event brought together up to 100 children for skills workshops and fun tournaments. All participants received Y-branded handballs, while top teams and players were recognised for their efforts.
The collaboration extended beyond the tournaments. Across all 12 Y holiday programme sites, children were encouraged to take part in daily handball activities and dedicated play time. Every game played contributed to the KidsCan fundraising effort, helping ensure more children across Aotearoa had access to food, clothing, and school supplies.
The Y’s Raise Up youth leaders also played an important role, assisting with on-the-ground support. The event provided leadership and skills development opportunities for young people involved with Raise Up while connecting them with the future generation.
This collaboration was about more than just handball, it was about creating moments of joy, building confidence, and showing what’s possible when charities with shared values come together. By uniting The Y’s reach in youth development with KidsCan’s mission to support children in hardship, we not only delivered fun and connection but also invested in stronger, more resilient communities for tomorrow.
