Bupa extends Foundation in New Zealand through partnership with Trees That Count

Today, Bupa announced a new partnership between the Bupa Foundation and Trees That Count along with six local Community Grants.

The Bupa Foundation, which has been operating in Australia since 2005, has invested more than $35m (AUD) in over 130 different health and care projects and organisations. Bupa recently announced the new directions for the Foundation which will focus on building mentally healthy and resilient communities and creating a healthy planet for healthy people. This also included expanding the work of the Foundation to support activities in New Zealand.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring the Bupa Foundation to New Zealand to help us support the physical and mental health of local communities as well as the environment,” said Carolyn Cooper, Managing Director, Bupa NZ.

“Through our everyday work our people already play an important role in the community by providing the best possible care and quality of life for our residents. The Foundation is an exciting extension of this work which will allow us to invest in innovative prevention and early intervention strategies that unite our people, customers and communities in creating a healthier world.”

The Bupa Foundation has teamed up with Trees That Count to plan and plant three ‘legacy forests’ in 2022, planting more than 10,000 native trees across three regions and 5,000 native trees through community projects.

Each legacy forest is intended to create green spaces for the use and enjoyment of future generations, as well as enabling New Zealanders to get involved with planting native tree spaces that contribute to biodiversity, health and wellbeing and fighting climate change.

“This is a unique opportunity for Bupa to be part of something multi-generational and genuinely impactful. The partnership will also develop an online information hub to help educate New Zealanders about the links between planetary health and human health,” said Carolyn.

Trees That Count’s online native tree marketplace is operated by the environmental charity Project Crimson Trust. Head of Partnerships & Marketing, Melanie Seyfort, said she is looking forward to getting the work with Bupa underway.

“We’re delighted to see more of our partners looking at larger and larger planting areas. Every single extra native tree in the ground has an impact, but projects like the one we’ll be undertaking with the Bupa Foundation are at a sort of scale where we can think about real, long-term impacts.”

Bupa Foundation Community Grants

The launch of the Bupa Foundation in New Zealand will include the Community Grants programme which encourages Bupa employees across New Zealand and Australia to identify, nominate and work with eligible organisations that are making a positive difference in their community.

“We’re delighted to be able to support our people to contribute to their communities in a way that is meaningful for them. This year we are investing $60,000 across six organisations – each receiving approximately $10,000,” Carolyn said.

“This year’s organisations include: The Manurewa Marae, Big Brother Big Sister Rotorua, Tauranga’s Women’s Refuge, The Upside Downs Education Trust, Graeme Dingle Foundation and Skylight Trust.*

“These are all very worthy organisations, and we look forward to supporting them this year and seeing the positive difference these grants will make in our communities,” Carolyn added.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Crush

External Communications Manager, Bupa

Email: stephanie.crush@bupa.co.nz

Mob: 027 801 9377

About Bupa 

Bupa is an international healthcare group which has been committed to a purpose of longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world for more than 70 years.

With 37 retirement villages and 49 care homes across New Zealand, Bupa offers residents the life that's right for them, backed by the care they deserve. Bupa employs 4,000 people to support more than 5,500 residents throughout New Zealand, living in independent apartments and villas, or warm and welcoming care homes.

For more information, visit www.bupa.co.nz

About the Bupa Foundation

Since 2005, the Bupa Foundation has invested more than $35 million to support more than 130 health and care projects in Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia and New Zealand, Bupa supports more than 6 million customers through a broad range of health and care services including health insurance, aged care, dental, optical, hearing and medical visa services. 

Employing more than 22,000 people, we believe that we can make a real difference to the lives of Australians and New Zealanders through our values, purpose and the way that we deliver personalised care.

As we are not listed, we’re able to have our profits reinvested in health and care initiatives for current and future customers. Since 2002 we have reinvested around $6bn in Australia and New Zealand,.

About Trees That Count

Trees That Count is a programme of charitable organisation Project Crimson Trust. Trees That Count runs the country’s first native tree marketplace which connects funded and gifted native trees to deserving community groups, iwi, local councils, schools and individuals looking to strengthen their own planting projects.

Trees That Count is generously supported by The Tindall Foundation, alongside the many businesses and individuals who are donating through the marketplace.

https://www.treesthatcount.co.nz/

About the Bupa Foundation Community Grants

The Bupa Foundation Community Grants programme, launched in 2019, encourages Bupa employees across New Zealand and Australia to identify, nominate and work with eligible organisations or charities that are making a positive difference in their community. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support projects that align with the themes of building mentally healthy and resilient communities and creating a healthy planet for healthy people.

* 2022 Community Grant recipients

·       Tauranga Women’s Refuge will provide local women with access to a safe space to share their experience of domestic violence and learn strategies towards living free from domestic violence.

·       The Manurewa Marae project aims to promote Maori identity, culture and Te Reo language for the elderly in the wider Manurewa community.

·       Skylight school based Mental Agility and Resilience Workshop strengthens and equips children and young people to navigate the challenges associated with change.

·       The Upside Downs Education Trust aims to enable children with Down's syndrome to access specialised speech-language therapy (SLT) programmes designed specifically for them with a strong emphasis on school readiness and transition.

·       Graeme Dingle Foundation will deliver the Kiwi Can programme to 40 students at Finlayson Park School in Manurewa Auckland, equipping Kiwi kids with positive values and developing their mental and emotional strength and resilience

·       Big Brother Big Sister Rotorua (BBBS) will deliver a school and community-based mentoring program to tamariki aged 6 years plus, focused on safe, positive, and sustainable mentoring.