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Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) funding

We pay OSCAR funding to organisations providing before school, after school or school holiday programmes for 5 to 13 year olds (or up to 18 years if a Child Disability Allowance is paid for that child).

OSCAR Development Grant

The OSCAR Development Grant is a one off payment of up to $3,000 to help with the cost of setting up a before school, after school, or school holiday programme. You can also use it to promote your programme, or to make any changes you need to become a Child, Youth and Family approved OSCAR provider.

OSCAR Assistance Funding

OSCAR Assistance Funding helps with the day to day costs of running before school, after school or school holiday programmes. The amount you can get depends on your programme's level of need. The maximum amount you can apply for each year is $16,000 per programme.

To qualify for OSCAR Assistance Funding your programme will need to be Child, Youth and Family approved, and:

  • receive income from parent fees or contributions
  • demonstrate a need for funding to improve your programme's sustainability and quality
  • operate 5 days per week
  • if you provide before school care operate at least 5 hours per week
  • if you provide after school care, operate at least 10 hours per week
  • if you provide holiday programmes, operate at least 30 hours per week, 4 weeks per year with at least one week in each holiday period.

There are two OSCAR Assistance Funding rounds each year. These are in April and September.

Getting Child Youth, and Family approval

Programmes need to be Child, Youth and Family approved before they can get OSCAR Assistance Funding. To find out more about the approval process either:

  • call Child, Youth and Family: 0508 326 459 or

Applying for funding

You need to apply to the OSCAR foundation for an OSCAR Development Grant or for OSCAR Assistance Funding. The OSCAR Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports OSCAR services. To apply:

  • Call the OSCAR Foundation: 0800 466 7227