About Us
Every child in Aotearoa deserves to stride into the future with confidence – no matter their circumstances.
But right now, an estimated 20,000 tamariki with a parent in prison face an invisible sentence.
Our justice system acts like a powerful current that sweeps tamariki and whānau toward cycles of hardship and intergenerational offending. Without support, tamariki impacted by whānau incarceration are 10x more likely to go to prison themselves.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou supports the tamariki and whānau of people in prison to create positive futures for themselves. We walk alongside whānau, providing wraparound social work, mentoring programmes and youth advocacy.
Our vision is that all whānau of people serving a sentence have the opportunity and support to choose a better future.
Our main objective is to build a community where every child who has a parent or caregiver in prison or serving a community sentence, has access to the necessary support and appropriate services to create a positive future for themselves.
Our programmes range from wraparound social work services for whānau, mentoring for children and rangatahi, and youth-led advocacy. As a charity, we provide free, confidential, and non-judgemental support for families and children who have whānau serving a sentence.
We work in prisons and the community, and have a team of well trained, experienced staff in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Ōtautahi (Christchurch) as well as services in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and Waihōpai (Invercargill).
96%
Of children struggle emotionally (e.g. depression, anxiety, withdrawal).
88%
Of families at Pillars have experience family violence or sexual violence
72%
Of families believe the mental health of their whānau in prison impacts their children's wellbeing.
Our Story
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou was founded by Verna McFelin in 1988 after her husband went to prison. She was left with 4 children and no support. Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou began as a support group for other mothers with partners in prison,
Today, it is a national charity upholding the rights of children of people in prison.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou was instrumental in creating the Children’s Bill of Rights for children who have a parent in prison, and its revised version, The Bill of Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration. We continues to strongly advocate for the rights of families impacted by a family members sentence with Ara Poutama (The Department of Corrections).
We have are a team of specialist staff delivering wrap-around social work services to families in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Ōtautahi (Christchurch). A team of incredible volunteers mentor hundreds of children who are facing some of the most challenging and difficult times in their lives.
Our Values
Whānaungatanga (Relationships, Kinship and Connection)
Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship)
Aroha me tautoko
(Love and Support)
Tika me pono
(Integrity)
Ako
(Learning)
Our Board
The Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou Board brings together a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge which are important for the organisation. They provide governance and strategic guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management Team.
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