Children's Flexi Fund

Photo of two Police officers and 4 kids walking on a wide street

Supporting the wellbeing of children and young people affected by family harm

The Children’s Flexi Fund supports whānau affected by family harm by helping to meet the needs of children, tamariki and rangatahi. Funding is available for one-off, time-limited goods and services that enhance safety, wellbeing, stability, and recovery where support is not otherwise available through existing services, funding streams, or statutory entitlements.

Before applying, we recommend all applicants review the Flexi Fund Guidance Framework to ensure the request aligns with the purpose and principles of the fund.

Eligibility

A child, tamariki, young person or rangatahi may be eligible if they:

  • Are aged 18 years or younger
  • Have experienced family harm, either directly or indirectly
  • Have a history of family harm or have been identified through family harm Multi Agency Response pathway
  • Would benefit from additional support to improve their safety, wellbeing, resilience, recovery or stability
  • Are residing in New Zealand, including non-resident children involved in family harm incidents occurring within New Zealand.

The fund is intended for children, tamariki, young people or rangatahi who:

  • Need support that cannot be readily accessed through another service or agency
  • Have an identified wellbeing, safety or recovery need
  • Would benefit from an intervention, service or item that will make a positive difference to their outcomes. 

Who Can Apply?

Applications must be submitted by a professional, practitioner, agency representative, or advocate working alongside the child, tamariki or young people, rangatahi and their family or whānau.

Eligible applicants include:

  • Police Family Harm staff and School Community Officers
  • Police staff supporting children and families affected by family harm
  • Family Violence Interagency Response (FVIAR) agency representatives
  • Integrated Safety Response (ISR) practitioners
  • Plan Leads and family safety plan coordinators
  • Oranga Tamariki staff
  • Teachers and school staff supporting the child
  • Other government agency child advocates
  • NGOs supporting children and families affected by family harm
  • Iwi and Hapū providers
  • Counsellors, therapists, social workers and youth practitioners
  • Lawyers acting for or advocating on behalf of children.

If you are unsure whether your organisation is eligible, please contact CFF@police.govt.nz to confirm eligibility before applying.

Flexi Fund Guidance Framework

The Flexi Fund Guidance Framework is the primary reference document for all Children's Flexi Fund applications. Before applying, we recommend reading this document and consider the following questions:

  1. Does the request support the child's wellbeing?
    Funding should contribute to one or more of the following:
    • Safety
    • Wellbeing
    • Recovery
    • Stability
    • Participation
    • Connection
    • Positive development
       
  2. Has other funding been considered?
    The Children's Flexi Fund is intended to fill gaps where support cannot reasonably be accessed through:
    • Existing government funding
    • Statutory entitlements
    • Community funding programmes
    • Existing contracted services
       
  3. Is the request time-limited?
    The fund supports one-off purchases and short-term interventions. It is not intended to provide ongoing funding or long-term service commitments.
     
  4. Can the applicant clearly demonstrate need?
    Applications should provide sufficient context to explain:
    • The child's circumstances
    • The impact of family harm
    • The identified need
    • Why the requested support is appropriate
    • Expected outcomes for the child 

Funding Prioritisation

Requests are likely to be prioritised where they:

  • Address an immediate wellbeing need
  • Support recovery from family harm
  • Remove barriers preventing participation or development
  • Create lasting positive outcomes for the child
  • Represent the most appropriate and cost-effective response 

What Can be Funded and What are the Funding limits?

The Children's Flexi Fund is designed to address identified needs that cannot be met through existing services, programmes, or other funding sources. Applicants are encouraged to consider and, where appropriate, explore alternative support options before applying. Every application is assessed on its individual merits, with funding decisions guided by the child's identified needs, wellbeing outcomes, and alignment with the Funding Guidance Framework. The examples provided throughout this website are intended as guidance only and do not guarantee funding approval.

Therapeutic Supports

  • Trauma-informed counselling
  • Specialist therapy
  • Youth mentoring
  • Wellbeing programmes

Education and Development

  • Learning resources
  • Educational support
  • Programmes that support engagement and participation

Health and Wellbeing

  • Services that promote emotional, social or developmental wellbeing

Practical Supports

  • Essential items that directly contribute to the child's wellbeing, safety or stability
  • Equipment required to support participation in approved activities or services

Funding Limits  

The following one-off funding limits apply:

Goods:Up to $500 + GST exclusive per child
Services:Up to $2,000 + GST exclusive per child
Goods and services combined:Up to $2,500 + GST exclusive per child

Where service funding is approved, the service should, where possible, be delivered within the applicable time period set out in the current Funding Guidance Framework.

If you believe an application falls outside these limits but is necessary because of exceptional circumstances, contact CFF@police.govt.nz before applying wherever possible.

Applications are unlikely to be approved where there is:

  • Duplicate existing funding or services
  • Long term/ongoing funding
  • Primarily benefit an organisation rather than the child
  • Do not demonstrate a clear wellbeing outcome
  • Fall outside the purpose of the fund
  • Missing supporting information 

Application Requirements

Before applying, ensure you have:

  • Confirmed Eligibility
    The child and applicant meet the eligibility requirements.
     
  • Reviewed the Funding Guidance Framework
    Applications should clearly demonstrate alignment with the framework.
     
  • Obtained Supporting Information
    You will need to provide:
    • Bank details for the Goods/Service provider for which funding is being sought
    • A quote that is valid for up to 20 business days at the time of submission for the amount requested  
    • Service/Goods provider contact number and address  
    • Service/Goods provider GST number if applicable.
       
  • Demonstrated Value and Need
    Clearly explain:
    • Why funding is required
    • Why other options cannot meet the need
    • Other funding options that have been explored and exhausted to support this fund. How the child will benefit/outcomes that you hope this fund will achieve
       
  • Considered Service Provider Requirements
    If funding relates to services rather than goods, the service provider must have a Child Protection Policy in place and meet the safety check requirements outlined in the Children’s Act 2014.

How to Apply

  1. Ensure you have reviewed the Flexi Fund Guidance Framework.
  2. Gather all supporting information, including quotes and goods/service provider details.
  3. Complete the online Children's Flexi Fund Application Form.
Please note: The application form must be completed in a single session and cannot be saved for later completion.
  • Applications are reviewed by the relevant District Prevention Manager or delegated approver.
  • If your application is approved, it will proceed to payment processing. You will be notified of the outcome of your application, whether approved or declined. If your application is declined, the notification will include feedback and information on any relevant next steps.

Need Assistance with Your Application?

If you have questions about:

  • Eligibility
  • Suitable funding requests
  • Required documentation
  • Application processes

Please contact: CFF@police.govt.nz

Additional Information

Case Study Example Pack

Refer to this Case Study Pack to see examples of how funding has been spent.

Evaluations

In 2021 a rapid process evaluation was completed on the fund by Allen & Clarke (PDF, 652KB). The findings identified that the Children’s Flexi Fund fills an important gap for prevention-related needs and that flexi funding provides a unique opportunity for Police to positively engage with families and whānau. Other aspects highlighted included potential administration related areas for improvement, including the introduction of an online application portal.

In January 2024, an outcomes evaluation was completed by Allen + Clarke (PDF, 2.7MB). This evaluation sought to assess reach, efficiency, and looked to identify improvements that could be made to better achieve outcomes sought by the fund.

The evaluation found that service providers favoured the fund for its flexibility and quick distribution to those in need. It also confirmed that the fund significantly contributes to the well-being of children and young people. Additionally, the evaluation emphasized how the flexi fund is strengthening positive relationships between Police and communities.

Benefits of flexi-funding

Flexi-funding enables the purchase of services not funded through other means. Flexi funding can help access to services or responses where it would otherwise be difficult or impossible to do so.

Many of the families and whānau experiencing family violence do not have the funds to access services on their own accord. A flexi fund process ensures that everyone can get the services they need. Flexi-funding also enables tailored services to be provided where specific needs of children, tamariki or rangatahi are identified. Each child, tamariki or rangatahi may have complex or different needs from others. Flexi funding enables the right service to be sought and funded, based on individual requirements. This has benefits for all families and whanau. In particular, where there are diverse cultural or bespoke needs.

Alternative Action plans

The Children’s Flexi Fund may be used to support young people involved in, or at risk of entering, the youth justice system where there is an identified history of family harm or experience of family harm. The fund can help address unmet needs and provide timely support that contributes to a young person’s wellbeing, safety, stability, and positive engagement.

Findings from the Allen + Clarke Children’s Flexi Fund Evaluation (2021) highlighted that the fund can provide a flexible and responsive mechanism for supporting young people, reducing the need to escalate some cases to an Oranga Tamariki Family Group Conference solely for the purpose of accessing funding to support Alternative Action plans.

School Community Officers, youth-focused service providers, and other eligible applicants may apply for funding to support children and young people who have experienced family harm. Funding may be considered for services, activities, or items that contribute to identified wellbeing outcomes and support the goals of an Alternative Action plan or other intervention, provided the request aligns with the Children’s Flexi Fund Guidance Framework.