Colin Cockburn Grant for Individuals with Chronic Long-Term Disability or Illness (New Zealand)

Deadline: 30-Jun-2026

Applications are open for the Colin Cockburn Award 2026, a funding program designed to support individuals living with chronic long-term disability or illness in New Zealand. The award provides financial assistance for the purchase of essential equipment that improves daily living, independence, education, or employment opportunities, particularly where support is not available through government funding programs.

The award helps bridge funding gaps by enabling eligible individuals to access assistive technologies, adaptive equipment, and specialised tools that support greater independence, mobility, participation, and quality of life.

Overview

The Colin Cockburn Award provides funding to individuals with chronic long-term disabilities or illnesses who require equipment that supports everyday living or work-related activities.

The program focuses on equipment that may not be funded through the Ministry of Health (MoH) or the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), helping recipients obtain essential resources that improve accessibility, independence, and participation in community life.

The award recognizes that many individuals face significant financial barriers when purchasing specialised equipment and aims to reduce those barriers through targeted support.

Award Value

• Total funding available for the 2026 round: $1,450
• Funding is provided as a grant gift
• Funds must be used for approved charitable purposes
• Equipment must support daily living, education, or employment
• Funding must be spent within 12 months of receipt

Program Objectives

The award aims to:

• Improve independence for people living with disability or chronic illness
• Support participation in employment and education
• Increase access to assistive equipment and adaptive technologies
• Reduce financial barriers to essential equipment purchases
• Enhance quality of life and wellbeing
• Promote inclusion and accessibility
• Support individuals where government funding is unavailable

Eligible Equipment and Support

Funding may be used for a broad range of assistive and adaptive equipment that supports independent living or employment.

Examples include:

Mobility Equipment

• Wheelchairs
• Wheelchair modifications
• Mobility aids
• Vehicle adaptations
• Vehicle accessibility equipment

Home Modifications

• Accessibility modifications
• Home adaptation equipment
• Safety improvements
• Mobility support installations

Assistive Technology

• Specialised computers
• Adaptive software
• Communication technologies
• Accessibility devices

Daily Living Equipment

• Home living aids
• Personal care equipment
• Specialised furniture
• Adaptive household equipment

Lifting and Support Equipment

• Lifting devices
• Transfer equipment
• Physical support aids
• Mobility assistance equipment

Employment and Education Support

• Work-related adaptive equipment
• Educational support equipment
• Accessibility technologies for learning
• Employment participation tools

Projects should clearly demonstrate how the requested equipment will improve independence, education, employment opportunities, or day-to-day functioning.

Funding Priorities

Priority is given to equipment that:

• Supports independent living
• Improves accessibility and mobility
• Enhances participation in work or education
• Addresses unmet equipment needs
• Is not funded through MoH or ACC support programs
• Delivers meaningful benefits to the applicant’s daily life

The program focuses on practical equipment that directly contributes to improved outcomes for individuals living with long-term health conditions or disabilities.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• Be living with a chronic long-term disability or illness
• Require equipment that supports daily living, education, or employment
• Intend to use the funding for approved purposes
• Submit an application before the closing date

Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Preference Considerations

While all eligible applicants may apply, preference may be given to:

• Members of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand
• Individuals residing within the Taupō District

Preference does not guarantee funding but may be considered during the assessment process.

Eligible Use of Funds

Funding must be used only for the purpose approved in the application.

Eligible uses include:

• Purchasing assistive equipment
• Acquiring adaptive technologies
• Supporting employment participation
• Supporting educational participation
• Improving accessibility and independence

Funds cannot be redirected to purposes outside the approved application without permission.

Assessment Process

Applications are reviewed to determine eligibility and potential impact.

Assessment may consider:

• Applicant need
• Suitability of requested equipment
• Expected benefits and outcomes
• Impact on independence and participation
• Availability of alternative funding sources
• Alignment with program objectives

Interviews

Applicants may be invited to participate in an interview before final funding decisions are made.

The interview process may be used to:

• Clarify equipment needs
• Discuss intended use of funding
• Assess expected outcomes
• Review application details

Award Conditions

Recipients must comply with all conditions attached to the award.

Key requirements include:

• Funds must be used only for the approved purpose.
• Funding must be spent within 12 months of receipt.
• Equipment purchases must align with the approved application.
• Recipients must comply with reporting obligations.
• Award conditions must be followed throughout the funding period.

Failure to comply with these conditions may affect eligibility for future support.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants are required to provide accountability information after receiving funding.

Recipients must submit a written report outlining:

• How the funding was spent
• Equipment purchased
• Benefits achieved
• Impact on daily living, education, or employment
• Outcomes resulting from the funded equipment

Reporting Deadline

• Reports must be submitted within six months of receiving the grant.

These reports help demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the funding program.

Promotional and Acknowledgement Requirements

Successful recipients may be required to participate in promotional and acknowledgement activities.

These may include:

• Interviews
• Award presentations
• Community recognition activities
• Media and promotional opportunities
• Social media acknowledgements using #geysergifts

Participation helps highlight the impact of the award and raise awareness of available support opportunities.

Revocation of Funding

The award may be revoked if:

• Funding is not used for approved purposes.
• Conditions of the award are breached.
• Required reporting is not completed.
• Information provided is found to be inaccurate.
• Recipient behaviour is considered inappropriate under program conditions.

Applicants should carefully review all obligations before accepting the award.

Award Timeline

The selection process follows a published schedule.

Key stages may include:

• Application submission
• Eligibility review
• Interview process (where required)
• Final funding decisions
• Recipient notification
• Award-related events

Award events for the 2026 funding round are scheduled to take place in:

• Taupō
• Rotorua

during September 2026.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure you:

• Are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• Live with a chronic long-term disability or illness.
• Require equipment that supports independence, education, or employment.

Step 2: Identify Equipment Needs

Clearly define:

• Equipment required
• Purpose of the equipment
• Expected benefits
• Impact on daily living, work, or education

Step 3: Prepare Supporting Information

Gather:

• Personal details
• Evidence of need
• Equipment information and costs
• Supporting documentation requested in the application

Step 4: Submit the Application

• Complete all required application sections.
• Ensure information is accurate and complete.
• Submit before the application deadline.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Step 5: Participate in Assessment Activities

Applicants may be asked to:

• Attend an interview
• Provide additional information
• Clarify equipment requirements

Tips for Applicants

• Clearly explain why the equipment is needed.
• Demonstrate how the equipment will improve independence or participation.
• Show why alternative funding sources are unavailable.
• Provide accurate equipment costs and supporting information.
• Highlight expected benefits and outcomes.
• Submit a complete application before the deadline.
• Be prepared to discuss your application if invited to an interview.

Why This Award Matters

Many individuals living with chronic disabilities or long-term illnesses face significant challenges accessing specialised equipment that supports independence, employment, and daily living. Government funding programs do not always cover every need, leaving gaps that can limit participation and quality of life.

The Colin Cockburn Award helps address these gaps by providing targeted financial assistance for essential equipment. By supporting accessibility, mobility, education, and employment participation, the award empowers individuals to live more independently and engage more fully in their communities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Who can apply for the Colin Cockburn Award?
  • New Zealand citizens or permanent residents living with a chronic long-term disability or illness.
• How much funding is available?
  • A total of $1,450 is available through the 2026 funding round.
• What types of equipment can be funded?
  • Wheelchairs, vehicle modifications, home modifications, specialised computers and software, lifting equipment, adaptive furniture, educational equipment, and work-related aids.
• Can the same person receive the award more than once?
  • Yes. Individuals may receive the award in consecutive years if they remain eligible.
• Will applicants be interviewed?
  • An interview may be required as part of the assessment process.
• When must the funds be used?
  • Funding must be used within 12 months of receiving the award.
• Are recipients required to submit a report?
  • Yes. A written report must be submitted within six months of receiving the grant, outlining how the funds were used and the impact achieved.

Conclusion

The Colin Cockburn Award 2026 provides valuable support for New Zealand residents living with chronic long-term disabilities or illnesses who need essential equipment to improve independence, education, employment participation, and everyday living. By helping fund assistive technologies, adaptive equipment, and accessibility solutions that may not be covered by other funding sources, the award plays an important role in promoting inclusion, independence, and improved quality of life for eligible recipients.

For more information, visit Geyser Community Foundation.