SPAN Charitable Trust

Your generosity enables SkillWise to support adults with intellectual disabilities to integrate and participate in the wider community.

Canterbury

SPAN (Special Persons Alternative Needs) Charitable Trust was established in 1991 by a group of parents who were proactive in ensuring there were meaningful options and opportunities for their sons and daughters.

Our organisation operated as a sheltered workshop from 1991 until 2004 when it underwent significant change transitioning from sheltered work to community participation. At this time, community participation was a new approach to disability support and was based around the principle of inclusion and supporting people to experience an "ordinary life".

Today, we offer a model of support based around facilitation and the building of a range of relationships. Every person’s journey is different. So we help craft a pathway to inclusion that is unique to the individual and is focused on people being part of the community. This in turn helps to ensure people take on valued social roles as citizens within their communities.

We are committed to values of inclusion and believe that all people should have control over the life choices they make and to achieve their goals.

Your generosity enables SkillWise to continue to support adults with an intellectual disability to integrate and participate in the wider community.

More about us

SkillWise works in partnership with over 220 people who have intellectual disabilities, their families and whanau. We aim to work with and empower each person to feel valued as a fully participating citizen through work, education and having fun!