Upper Clutha Children's Medical Trust

24/05/2026

We are so lucky to have four Child-Centred Play Therapists here in Wānaka.

For those who don’t know much about Play Therapy, it’s a therapeutic modality that provides children with a safe and supportive space to process emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy ways to communicate and regulate their feelings – all in an age-appropriate way. Often, the family is brought in for a few sessions to learn tools to support their child, too.

We've seen some incredible progress made with the families we have helped by funding these sessions. We are so thankful to the local therapists and to all of you who have helped us through donations and other support.
❤

23/05/2026

One of the important pathways that referrals to the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust is through our local schools.

Teachers, counsellors, learning support coordinators, and other school staff work closely with students every day, and can often identify challenges early. We are incredibly grateful for the care they show in supporting families and helping connect them with available assistance.

Read the full blog here, including how you can help us support these kids: https://www.uccmedtrust.co.nz/2026/05/24/schools-helping-connect-families-with-support/

14/04/2026

Oh, our hearts 🥹 We received the most beautiful card from a local child whose family needed a little extra help from us to fund play therapy.

11/03/2026

Thank you to the Wānaka App for this lovely write up.
Come and see us at the Whitefox stand to get your raffles tickets!

The Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust is raffling a children’s playhouse at the 2026 Wānaka A&P Show to raise vital funds for local families facing children’s medical, developmental and physical needs. ​

10/03/2026

A huge thank you to the amazing local businesses helping make this year’s Wanaka A&P Show fundraiser possible!

We are raffling a playhouse at the A&P Show. And it wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of CDL Building , who donated the beautiful playhouse, Whitefox Real Estate for providing the space and managing many of the logistics, and Contracting Wanaka for their support in getting it there.

We’re incredibly grateful to have such strong community backing. If you’re heading to the A&P Show, keep an eye out for the playhouse raffle and grab a ticket. It’s all for a great cause! 💛

16/02/2026

STORYTIME: Featuring quirky clubs, a three-decade rivalry and a generous donation.

Just over 30 years ago, a group of Wānaka locals (including members of the Wallis, Gordon, Burdon and Elworthy families) decided to form a social tennis club, naming it "The Ancient and Royal Raqueteers."

Not long after, players from the Simmers, Johnstones and Wilson families formed their own team, calling it "The Knotty Points", and a friendly rivalry was born.

Each Christmas, the two clubs face off in a tournament, followed by a celebration.

In recent years, they’ve ditched Secret Santa and instead taken up a collection for a local cause. Last Christmas, the two teams raised an impressive $950 for the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust, a donation we are very grateful for 💛

Not bad for a bunch of self-proclaimed “oldies.” 🎾

Read the blog here:

04/02/2026

As it turns out, Christmas is the season that keeps on giving long after the holiday ends 🥂💕

A big heartfelt thanks to the and Queenstown Airport Women in Business for their generous support of the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust through the Women in Business Christmas Luncheon.

The luncheon raised an incredible $12,826 for the Trust, all thanks to the generosity of those who attended and the many businesses that donated auction items. This support will directly assist Upper Clutha families who are facing added financial pressure as a result of their children’s health and developmental needs.

We are incredibly grateful to the women in business who supported this event, as well as the local and national businesses that contributed so generously. 🥂

02/02/2026

A great big thank you to Rotary Club of Wanaka and their rubber ducks. 🦆

We are incredibly grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the proceeds from the 2025 Corporate Duck Race entries, with a very generous $7,700 donated to the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust.

These funds will directly support children and families in our community who are navigating a range of medical-related challenges ❤

04/12/2025

🌟 Moments like this remind us why we do what we do. 🌟

We recently received a heartfelt letter from a young learner who’s been receiving funding to support their learning difficulties. They shared how much more confident they feel with reading and math, and how excited they are to keep learning.

This message was a beautiful reminder of the impact every donation makes for children in our community.

To our amazing young writer: thank you. You made our day, and we’re so proud of you.