Annual Report For year end 30 June 2021
Northland
Enrolled 369 Target 600
Waikato
Enrolled 695 Target 1200
Taranaki
Enrolled 272 Target 300
Manawatu and Whanganui
Enrolled 37 Target 600
Wellington and Horowhenua
Enrolled 197 Target 1000
West Coast and Canterbury
Enrolled 240 Target 1000
Southland and Otago
Enrolled 29 Target 450
Creation of Books for Babes initiative
Trust Deed signed, Administrator contracted, first newsletter produced First evaluation of Books for Babes
1997
1998
1999
2000
First books delivered – funded by Rotary International
2001
2002
500 families delivered Books for Babes
2003
Logo designed and 540 books delivered
2004
$31,000 raised
2005
2006
2007
Number of books per family increased to five and 3,000 books delivered
2008
Auckland
Enrolled 1378 Target 5450
Bay of Plenty and Lakes
Annual Report
Enrolled 1456 Target 1050
For year end 30 June 2021
Tairawhiti
Enrolled 89 Target 250
Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa
Contents
Enrolled 152 Target 550
Chief Executive and Chair’s Report
4
Our work this year
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Executive Function
8
Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough
Enrolled 108 Target 200
Statement of Service Performance
10
Special Purpose Financial Report
12
Appendix: Financials
13
Appendix: Auditor’s Report
21
Storytime Book Distribution 2020-21 NUMBER OF FAMILIES ENROLLED Note. Enrolments for the Books for Babies Programme were significantly impacted by COVID-19. In addition to Books for Babies we had 2776 families enrolled in our First 1000 Days programme across New Zealand.
2009
Tindall Foundation funds a CEO position
Books for Babies Expansion to East Coast expanded to Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Northland
2010
2012
2011
CEO appointed and 50,000th book delivered
2013
2014
Second evaluation undertaken and expansion to Canterbury
2015
Expansion to Hawkes Bay and First 1000 Days pilots commence 2016
17,448 books delivered – expansion to Porirua
2017
Expansion to Southland
2018
Expansion to Taranaki and Nelson and Prisons programme commences
Storytime delivers hundreds of care packs to vulnerable families in Alert Levels 2019
2020
2021
COVID impacts programmes
Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Chief Executive and Chair’s Report On behalf of the Storytime Foundation Board of Trustees it is our pleasure to present this Annual Report.
In 2020 COVID arrived and the world began to look a very different place. Since February 2020 New Zealand has been in and out of Alert Levels and borders have been closed to all but some returning Kiwis and a few other exceptions, plus a brief window to Australia.
Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is an intergenerational intervention designed to foster positive whānau-child interactions, provide access to books in home and heart languages and grow children’s enjoyment of reading.
COVID has impacted on us all but particularly on those more vulnerable families in our communities.
The Government commitment to maintain social service funding over the lockdown period certainly helped us again this year and we did not need to use any wage subsidies. We took an innovative approach, and with the help of Ministry of Education, Police and Corrections, we delivered books and other resources along with key messages to some of the most vulnerable children through our “carepack” project.
In Alert Level 3 and 4, our provider partners were unable to deliver our programmes as business as usual, and we had no access to prisons or Community Corrections facilities to deliver Taonga mō ngā Tamariki to people in the care of Corrections with children. At Alert Level 2 there was some access and we were able to deliver some programmes but have been somewhat restricted.
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Our Books for Babies and First 1000 Days programmes have managed to deliver to families experiencing adverse circumstances, albeit with disruptions as we weaved in and out of Alert Levels.
The feedback from participants has been quite remarkable and, thanks to Point and Associates independent evaluators, we have a body of evidence that tells us that the programme is working.
While we didn’t reach as many families as we had anticipated this year, we did do reasonably well under the circumstances. We delivered our books, key messages and activity resources to 5322 new families over the course of the year with a total of approximately 10,000 children participating across all of our programmes.
Our funders and donors have been very supportive again this year. With income through their generosity and contract fees from Department of Corrections and Ministry of Education, we received just over $800,000 this year. Particular thanks go to Tindall Foundation, Foundation North, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, TSB Trust and NZ Lotteries.
In the year to 30 June 2021 our programme designed for people in the care of Corrections, Taonga mō ngā Tamariki, was delivered to 121 Corrections sites both behind-the-wire and in the community.
Much of the organisation’s success this year, as in past years, is due to the tireless work of the staff, contractors and volunteers and we thank them and acknowledge their dedication to the programmes. Particular thanks go to Liz Patterson and Linda Biggs for their significant efforts this year. We have again enjoyed working with our partners: Libraries, Plunket, tamariki ora providers, midwives, health service providers, Family Start and District Health Boards, and have again joined with new organisations and networks to allow delivery of our services to the highest need families as we have expanded into new areas. We would also like to thank Alex Woodley of Point Associates for her work with our evaluations, and also for her advice and assistance as we reviewed programmes and services this year. As an organisation we approach the coming year well placed for growth in our various programmes as we continue to build on the foundations already laid. We are confident that we, along with our partners, can continue to have a positive impact for vulnerable families throughout New Zealand.
Tony Culliney Chief Executive
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Thomas Bendall Chair
Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Our Work Each and every day, babies are born into New Zealand families where parents are ill-equipped, supported or resourced to adequately provide their children with the attention they need and deserve.
Sadly, many of these babies go on to do badly at play, at school and at work. Accordingly, Storytime Foundation is focused on providing opportunities for these families to bond with their babies and young children and to engage with their communities, to develop the confidence and parenting skills so important in a child’s early years.
Families participating in our programmes benefit from learning how to read to their child and the benefits of engaging with babies and young children through talking, reading, singing and playing. They learn more about what is happening to their child’s development, and especially frontal cortex activity, critical in the early stages of a child’s development. Some families do not recognise the importance of these activities although we know that babies respond to their mother’s voice even before birth.
Working collaboratively with well child/tamariki ora providers, libraries, DHBs, Family Start providers, midwives, Government agencies and others we create a home environment in which children thrive, achieve, and belong. Using books, games, activities, and storytelling as a medium, our programmes foster stronger families and a better society, for today and tomorrow.
Our goal is that every parent knows the importance of reading and storytelling with their children, and that New Zealand children grow up healthy, nurtured in homes rich in language and love. This year we delivered a programme into every New Zealand prison designed to help incarcerated parents to recognise the importance of reading and storytelling with their children.
Our programmes provide books, resources, information and support to families experiencing adverse circumstances with the key aim of improving parent-to-child attachment.
In our work with incarcerated parents we have seen dramatic improvements in understanding about child development and in the quality of child visits. Participating parents say:
As well as services delivered into the homes of vulnerable families, we have delivered a programme into NZ prisons to improve attachment between incarcerated parents and their children. This programme, known as Taonga mō ngā Tamariki (Treasures for our Children) includes Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® and has been supported by Dept of Corrections and Ministry of Education.
• “My kids hate reading as much as I do – but they have loved these books and so have I” • “We are not the teachers. We can put the magic and the fun into the learning for our kids”. • It would be really hard on our kids to go back to that kind of visiting. My kids cry when they leave the child-centred visits. They used to cry when they came. It was boring for them, and they started not wanting to come.” • “There is just this big hole, this big blank in the years – doing the stuff dads do with their kids, doing all those normal things families do together. My kids won’t have that.” • “He was so happy to be able to read to our children while we visited him it brought him and our children some comfort and some normality in a very difficult time.”
We know that every baby is born ready to learn, but brain development and a baby’s capacity for learning and loving is heavily dependent on early life experiences. We know from national and international evidence that close parental interaction in the early stages of a baby’s development stimulates the frontal lobe and increases early learning opportunities.
A strong bond between a caregiver and child during the first 1000 days significantly improves outcomes in life for the child and family unit (eg.,Bowlby, 1958; Growing Up in NZ 2014).
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
6
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Key Facts In this time… The Storytime Foundation has been supporting New Zealand families since 1997. Originally established in Auckland, we now support children and families in:
70,000 families have benefited
• • • • • • • • •
delivered to vulnerable children and their families
from our flagship activity ‘Books for Babies’
257,000 books have been
• Wellington • Nelson/ Marlborough • Tasman • Canterbury • West Coast • Otago • Southland
Northland Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti Taranaki Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Manawatu/ Whanganui
350
Over Well Child professionals have been trained to deliver Books for Babies
$3.5 million
Over has been raised to benefit some of New Zealand’s most needy children and families
257,014
Storytime Foundation equips parents to take time to read with, talk with and tell stories to their child.
275,000
Total number of Storytime Books delivered all-time to 30 June 2021
250,000
Income
225,000
Targeted Income for TMNT Corrections programmes Other Income
200,000
Expenditure Books - Purchase cost, insurance etc
175,000
Admin/Overheads Employee Related Costs
150,000
125,000
Income & Expenditure 01 July 2020 to 30 June 2021
100,000
19,706
75,000
Storytime Books delivered in the financial year from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021
50,000
25,000
0 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
7
2018
2019
2020
2021
Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Executive Function Executive dysfunction can make it hard to focus, to learn, to follow directions, and regulate our emotions. The foundations of these skills develop in the first 1000 days after conception. The lifelong costs of derailing typical development of Executive Function are manifest in learning, behavioural, and mental health disorders, poor relationships, reduced earnings, and interactions with the justice and welfare system. Impaired executive function has multiple developmental and contextual causes and is disproportionate in low socioeconomic environments. (Sir Peter Gluckman 2021)
“I think I mean I haven’t actually done a lot of reading to him, he does look at pictures like those bold sort of pictures he’ll pick out so he has got a couple of little books there that have the black and white pictures but in terms of actually, I’ve never thought much about actually reading to him and maybe the listening aspect of it. So I wouldn’t say I’ve actually done that with him yet.” – Books for Babies mum
Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. The brain needs this skill set to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, set and achieve goals, and control impulses.
The most important higher brain function for successful passage through life is Executive Function. This is the set of cognitive skills that include flexible thinking, the ability to regulate one’s attentional focus and one’s emotions, and future-oriented behaviour. We use Executive Function every day to learn, work, and manage daily life.
When children have opportunities to develop executive function and self-regulation skills, individuals and society experience lifelong benefits. These skills are crucial for learning and development. They also enable positive behaviour and allow us to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families. Executive function and self-regulation skills depend on three types of brain function: working memory, mental flexibility, and selfcontrol. These functions are highly interrelated, and the successful application of executive function skills requires them to operate in coordination with each other.
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
When children have opportunities to develop executive function and self-regulation skills, individuals and society experience lifelong benefits.
Children aren’t born with these skills—they are born with the potential to develop them. Some children may need more support than others to develop these skills. If children do not get what they need from their relationships with adults and the conditions in their environments—or (worse) if those influences are sources of toxic stress—their skill development can be seriously delayed or impaired. Adverse environments resulting from neglect, abuse, and/or violence may expose children to toxic stress, which can disrupt brain architecture and impair the development of executive function. (Harvard) Providing the support that children need to build these skills at home, in early care and education programs, and in other settings they experience regularly is one of society’s most important responsibilities. Growth-promoting environments provide children with the foundations that help them practice necessary skills before they must perform them alone. Adults can facilitate the development of a child’s executive function skills by establishing routines, modelling social behaviour, and creating and maintaining supportive, reliable relationships. It is also important for children to exercise their developing skills through activities that foster creative play and social connection, such as reading with mum, dad or other whanau. Later, they will learn to direct their own actions with decreasing adult supervision. Read with your child every day and talk, play, sing and positively engage with them – you will reap the rewards, and it’s fun!
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Statement of Service Performance The purpose of this Statement of Service Performance is to report on the activities of Storytime Foundation Trust Board over the F2021 year.
Vision
Legal Name Storytime Foundation Trust Board
New Zealand children thriving in supportive home environments.
Type of Entity Charitable Trust, Registered Charity Registration No. CC22735
Mission
Certificate of Incorporation No. 1487114
The Storytime Foundation Trust is committed, in partnership with Plunket, Tamariki Ora providers, Family Start, libraries, Corrections facilities and staff and others to building the ongoing wellbeing of children and their families by increasing bonding through reading, talking and more positive engagement in the home.
Entity Structure • Under our Trust Deed the number of Trustees shall be no less than three nor more than six. We currently have four trustees including a Chairman • Our operations are managed by a CEO with part time staff and consultants • Volunteers support us with our activities throughout the year • We operate collaboratively with a number of agencies
Outputs Storytime Foundation delivers books, information and a range of resources to high need families with children from birth to 10 years of age to improve early bonding and attachment through our programmes.
Main Sources of Cash and Resources Storytime Foundation receives income from a variety of philanthropic Trusts, Foundations and donors to purchase books and to cover operational expenses, and income from Government contracts related to the delivery of programmes to people in the care of NZ Corrections of families impacted by Family Harm
Research indicates that a strong bond between a caregiver and child, particularly during the first 1000 days, significantly improves outcomes in life for the child and the wider family unit. It also has positive effects on literacy. We therefore: • deliver books and information into New Zealand’s most deprived homes and families/whanau to enhance early attachment, build cohesive families and improve social outcomes • teach parents to take time to read to their child - this remains a key determinant of bonding and attachment
Main Methods Used to Raise Funds Funds are raised through application to philanthropic Trusts and Foundations and by negotiation with Government Departments Reliance on Volunteers and Donated Goods/Services We work collaboratively with Plunket, tamariki ora agencies, Family Start providers, DHBs, Police, Corrections services, Ministry of Education and others. These agencies assist with the delivery of our services
We are the only agency delivering Books for Babies directly into the home through well child providers. In F2021 we achieved the following: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Enrolled 5322 new families Had 10,000 children participate in our programmes Delivered 19,706 books Delivered hundreds of resources such as brochures, fridge magnets, table mats and useful information to support parents as they work closely with their child. 5. Delivered a programme to people in the care of Corrections to help improve the bond between parents and tamariki, and to reduce recidivism 6. Delivered care packs to children with a parent in the care of Corrections and to families that were impacted by a family violence incident during COVID 19 Alert Levels.
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Outcomes
Additional Information: Feedback
We provided opportunities for high need families with newborns and young children- particularly Maori and Pacific - to engage with their communities, develop confidence and parenting skills critical in the early years, and provide a better future for their children thereby reducing disparities in social and developmental outcomes. Our programmes target the highest need families to improve bonding between parent/caregiver and child, to encourage the families/whanau to understand and better value reading and talking to their children, and to become more aware of the benefits of providing a nurturing environment.
We receive feedback from participating parents regarding the benefits to them of participation, and we have contracted an independent research company, Point & Associates, to undertake a formal evaluation of our programmes. This year Point & Associates evaluated the Taonga mo nga Tamariki programme in depth and a copy of the evaluation has been provided to the Minister of Corrections and Ministry of Education. There is also a copy on our website www.storytime.org.nz The feedback has been very positive, parents feel that the programme has benefited them and their child, they report that they feel more confident as parents in reading and talking with their child.
We support families to understand child developmental needs using books as the catalyst, to achieve bonding, child development, early language and family literacy outcomes. We support parents prior to leaving prison to better understand their child’s development and provide resources for parent and child to share.
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Storytime Foundation Trust Board
Special Purpose Financial Report For the Year ended 30 June 2021
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Note: Read in conjunction with Audit Report and Notes to the Financial Statements.
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Note: Read in conjunction with Audit Report and Notes to the Financial Statements.
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Note: Read in conjunction with Audit Report and Notes to the Financial Statements.
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Note: Read in conjunction with the Audit Report
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Note: Read in conjunction with the Audit Report
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Note: Read in conjunction with the Audit Report
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Note: Read in conjunction with the Audit Report
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Storytime Foundation Annual Report 2021
Storytime Foundation PO Box 18 340, Glen Innes, Auckland 1743 Contact: admin@storytime.org.nz | 021 252 8720 www.storytime.org.nz