Funding for OSCAR providers
If you or your organisation are providing or thinking of providing before school, after school, or holiday programmes for 5 to 13 year olds, Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) funding may be available from the Ministry of Social Development.
This brochure is a quick guide to get you started and put you in touch with people who can help you.
What funding is available?
OSCAR Assistance Funding is paid to help with the day to day costs of running your programme. The amount you can receive is based on your programme’s level of need. The maximum amount you can apply for each year is $16,000 per programme.
If you are setting up a new programme you can also apply for a one off OSCAR Development Grant of up to $3,000. As well as helping you with initial set up costs, this payment can be used for promoting your programme, or making any changes needed to meet Child, Youth and Family approval requirements.
What do I need to do?
1. Getting started – applying for the Development Grant
If you are setting up a new programme talk to the OSCAR Foundation. The OSCAR Foundation is a non profit organisation that supports OSCAR services. They will get your Development Grant application underway with Work and Income and support you through the Child, Youth and Family OSCAR approval process.
Contact the OSCAR Foundation on 0800 466 7227 or visit:
2. Gaining Child, Youth and Family OSCAR approval
Programmes need to be Child, Youth and Family approved before they can get OSCAR Assistance Funding. Ask Child, Youth and Family for a copy of their Standards for Approval for OSCAR Programmes booklet and provider guide. Once you’ve completed the application requirements, give them a call.
Contact Child, Youth and Family 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459) or visit:
3. Applying for Assistance Funding
Once your programme has received Child, Youth and Family approval you can apply for OSCAR Assistance Funding from the Ministry of Social Development. The OSCAR Foundation will help you through this process. To qualify for the funding your programme will also need to:
- receive income from parent fees or contributions, and
- demonstrate a need for funding to improve your programme’s sustainability and quality, and
- operate 5 days per week, and
- if you provide before school care, operate at least 5 hours per week during school terms, or
- if you provide after school care, operate at least 10 hours per week during school terms, or
- 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.
Contact the OSCAR Foundation on 0800 466 7227 or visit:
Getting your message out
Tell people about your programme by registering with the Family and Community Services National Directory. This is free, and a great way of reaching families looking for before school, after school, or holiday programmes in their area.
Check out:
OSCAR Subsidy for parents and caregivers
If your programme is approved by Child, Youth and Family, families using your service may be eligible for an OSCAR Subsidy. Families can get this subsidy if their family income is below a certain limit, the child’s other caregiver can’t take care of them and the main caregiver is:
- working, doing a work-related activity or studying, or
- seriously ill or disabled, or
- paid a Child Disability Allowance for any of their children, or
- caring for a child that is in hospital.
OSCAR Subsidy brochures are on our website or you can ask for a supply by phoning 0800 559 009.