Wellington HELP is one of our 65 charity partners at The Good Registry, supporting survivors of sexual harm in the Wellington region. We recently caught up with the team to hear about what they’ve been up to over the past year, the challenges they’re facing, what’s ahead, and how your donations support that.
Tell us a little about your last year: What have the highlights and key accomplishments been?
Our past year has been rewarding, meaningful, and focused on our wider community.
In July 2025, we celebrated Wellington HELP’s 40th birthday, alongside our Board and partner organisations. Together, we marked this significant milestone with a day of connection and reflection, while setting our sights on how we can continue to best support survivors across Wellington.
We acknowledged the service and efforts of the people who have been part of our journey over the years, alongside the generous donors and groups who made it all possible. Looking forward, we are committed to walking alongside survivors for another 40 years, with a safer and brighter future for all.
What have the challenges been?
The fiscal constraints felt deeply by many charities across Aotearoa are a primary concern for us here too. We are doing all we can to sustain our essential support services well into the future. With the generous help of donors and The Good Registry, we are confident that we can continue to support survivors for many years to come.
What lies ahead this year?
We’re feeling positive and hopeful looking ahead throughout 2026.
Recently, we’ve prioritised community engagement and advocacy, and have several events lined up over the coming months. These are understated opportunities to connect with our community and talk about our mahi. We value having a visible and approachable presence, sharing the importance of the work we do, being available for survivors who may have not yet reached out, and spreading awareness.
This year, we’re also continuing to strengthen our partnerships with other likeminded groups such as the police, schools and universities, and social services. Collaboration is key in our spaces, as the work we do with survivors does not happen in isolation. The best support is wraparound and happens when we are all working together to create positive change.
Can you share a story that illustrates the difference your work makes?
A survivor recently shared feedback with us about their experience at Wellington HELP. We feel exceptionally grateful when we hear about the role we have played in a survivor’s journey; it really demonstrates to us the tangible impacts of our work.
The client mentioned how even the simple act of entering our waiting room, with its subdued lighting, brought a sense of calm. They emphasised that the support our clinical staff offered, particularly in accompanying them to child protection team and meeting with the police, was something they couldn't have managed alone. They said that thanks to Wellington HELP’s unwavering support, they achieved something they never thought possible: peace and not living with the turmoil they had been experiencing.
We are so grateful to have been part of their journey towards peace.
What is changing in and around your community right now — and how is that shaping the need for your services?
The current social and economic climate in Aotearoa is placing significant pressure on communities, and we’re seeing those impacts acutely here in Wellington.
Rising living costs, financial instability, and difficulty meeting basic needs are creating widespread stress and anxiety. For many people, simply securing housing, affording groceries, paying bills, and covering transport has become a daily challenge.
For survivors of sexual harm, the stress of these pressures can become a real barrier to healing. When someone is overwhelmed by immediate, practical concerns, it becomes much harder to find the cognitive and emotional space needed to address the impact of harm. Reaching out for support can feel impossible when day-to-day survival needs are taking priority.
To try and alleviate this barrier, we’ve been intentional in creating a space where survivors can have our support as they navigate these primary, practical issues. They’re able to establish a connection with our organisation and then seek more therapeutic support when they feel their more immediate, tangible needs have been addressed. We understand that having the cognitive space to address harm is an important precursor to engaging with our services. This approach allows people to build a connection with our organisation at a pace that feels safe, and to seek more therapeutic support when they feel ready and resourced.
How do funds received through The Good Registry translate to real world impact?
The generosity we receive through The Good Registry directly impacts the survivors we work with. We are beyond grateful for the support.
The funds we have received over the years have been instrumental in us continuing to offer our support services, day in and day out. It means we are here for every survivor that reaches out and can continue to keep our doors open in the future.
The funds received through The Good Registry contribute to us:
- Answering our free, 24/7 support line
- Supporting survivors through police interviews and forensic examinations
- Providing emotional and practical support with social work
- Working alongside a survivor’s whānau and friends
- Advocating for survivors as they navigate court systems and processes
- Offering a diverse range of therapies, such as talk, animal, art, and dance
If you could say one thing directly to someone considering supporting Wellington HELP what would it be?
To anyone who supports us or keeps us in mind, we say a whole-hearted thank you. Our generous community plays an invaluable role in the work we do.
And to The Good Registry, thank you for making giving easy. You’ve brought generosity into the limelight as an amazing alternative to traditional giving. This has undoubtedly had invaluable impact on us and numerous other charities around Aotearoa.
Our gratitude is possibly best portrayed by sharing some feedback from survivors we have recently worked with. Their experiences illustrate both the impact of our work and the significance of the support we receive from The Good Registry:
“This feels like the first time in a long time I've had someone watching out for me.”
“I would describe it as life changing, sanity saving, and just someone you can talk to who freely listens.”
“I would not be where I am today without the support.”
“I was a completely different person when I first walked into Wellington HELP.”
“Thank you for all of the care, kindness, and unconditional support.”
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