Perpetual Guardian And Swathe.Me
Team up to Change How New Zealanders Can Give

New Zealanders are always looking for a great way to do good. A new visionary online platform helps us all do exactly that.

It’s called Swathe.me.

It helps people to support loved ones and others who are experiencing unexpected health or life challenges. Equally, it helps people overcome the fear that makes them reluctant to ask and receive help in times of need.

Co-Founder Andrew Carr explains that Swathe.me is unprecedented in New Zealand’s diverse philanthropic sector. “Everything we do at Swathe.me makes every day better for those experiencing difficult times. We make it easy to give practical support to someone you know during their time of need, even when you can’t be there in person. Our direct support platform is free and simple to use, so that together we can make a difference every day.”

Like many great initiatives, Swathe.me was developed by co-founders Janey and Andrew Carr in response to a very personal crisis. A friend of theirs was diagnosed with leukaemia and spent nine months in the hospital.

Despite having a great support network and any number of offers to help, they witnessed the
significant impact their friend’s cancer treatment had on his family. During that experience they identified a real need for delivering additional emotional, financial, and practical support for the day-to-day practicalities of acute and chronic illness or disability.

Operating in partnership with the Perpetual Guardian Foundation, Swathe.me is a charitable
entity designed to make it so much easier (and practical) for people to respond to that always-asked question, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

Founder Janey Carr says, “It’s easy. With Swathe.me you just choose from a list of everyday things you could use a helping hand with, like walking the dog, doing the laundry or mowing the lawn. Then you simply share your list with your family and friends next time they ask, ‘what can I do to help?’ This lets them know how they can help in a way that actually makes a difference.

“Equally, as a supporter, you can also choose from a list of everyday things you can help with, then simply share your list with your friend or loved one, so that when the time is right they know exactly who to turn to for the help they need.”

Swathe.me has been set up to enable charitable giving to those in need via a Swathe.me card especially for those times when a supporter can’t be there in person due to time or distance.

“Friends and family can support someone directly by giving to that person’s Swathe.me card privately through the platform, while those who don’t currently have a loved one facing a major event but want to contribute, can give generally to those in need via the website.

“When someone in need signs up to Swathe.me, they are allocated a Swathe.me ID number. When a supporter gives privately to a Swathe.me card using that individual’s Swathe.me ID either via the website or the platform, then the recipient will receive the physical card that enables direct practical support from our nationwide preferred suppliers.

“It means that Swathe.me can provide the things that people need in times of high stress: a lift to hospital, babysitter/caregiver, physio session, meal provision, grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, funeral arrangements, lawn mowing, or a Will or Enduring Power of Attorney.

“We’re making life better every day for New Zealanders right now. It’s a great feeling.”

Perpetual Guardian’s philanthropy manager Kirsten Taylor says, “When we established the Perpetual Guardian Foundation we knew we needed the flexibility to support innovative vehicles like Swathe.me. As a fund of the Foundation, the Swathe.me Charitable Trust is structured to accept charitable donations for those in need or causes close to the heart, such as cancer, mental health, neonatal care, hospice, or to address specific types of disabling conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Recipients receive 100% of every donation, and donors are eligible for a 33% tax credit.”

To find out more about Swathe.me, visit the website (www.swathe.me) or Facebook page (www.fb.com/swatheme). Contributions to the Swathe.me Charitable Trust can be made at www.swathe.me/charitable-trust/.

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