The team behind the recently-launched WTF campaign has released further information on where donations to the campaign will be put to use.

A new section on the WTF website, entitled ‘WTF are the funds for?’, identifies three main areas that donations will be funnelled into: ‘Old and Young’, ‘Mental Health’ and ‘Whanau and Community’.

The funds raised will help to support a wide range of community members, particularly those in more vulnerable age groups, the website explains.

They will also go towards addressing GLBT over-representation in mental health services and strengthening ties with communities and whanau connected with GLBT people.

“Our campaign and the funds raised will go first and foremost into sustaining the staggering amount of work that both [Rainbow Youth and OUTLine do and their immense contribution to New Zealand,” the website explains.

“Both Rainbow Youth and Outline have been under increasing strain as demand for our services has increased, but with scant government funding available and very little private funding, we are actually losing staff.”

Apart from sustaining current works, the team behind WTF hopes to increase the outreach of both of the organisations.

“This translates into more educators for schools, more phone counsellors, more training for our volunteers and more resources for our communities.

“We are especially aware of gaps in our services for those who live in isolated and rural areas. We have callers who are not able to directly access face-to-face services, ringing to ask what support we can find for them where they live. Currently, we are often unable to refer them to an organisation or support group in their area because it does not exist.

“By increasing our outreach, we would be better able to engage with organisations in rural areas who could offer support in partnership with Rainbow Youth and OUTLine.”

A precise breakdown of the work that these organisations do and what the funds raised through the WTF campaign will contribute towards can be found HERE.