Sovereign takes principal partner role with Child Matters

Media release. For immediate release

11 October 2013

Sovereign takes principal partner role with Child Matters for Buddy Day

Child Matters today announced Sovereign New Zealand as the principal partner for its annual Buddy Day, New Zealand’s only community event aimed at raising awareness and starting conversations about the role every adult plays in preventing child abuse.

“Sovereign is in the business of protecting people, so it’s a great fit for Buddy Day,” said Anthea Simcock, Child Matters CEO.

“We want Kiwi communities to take a role in providing that protection for our kids by ensuring that all adults feel able to become involved if they have a concern for the welfare of a child.”

New Zealand has one of the worst rates of death by child abuse in the developed world, and that’s just the cases that are reported. It directly affects around a quarter of the population, which means around one million people are currently suffering or living with the long-term effects of past abuse.

General manager marketing and product for Sovereign David Drillien says Buddy Day aligns with Sovereign’s existing community programme, which, via partnerships with Youthline and Conservation Volunteers aims to build better wellbeing for future generations of New Zealanders.

“We partner with intervention programmes because the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders has a direct impact on Sovereign as a business and also the communities in which we all live. That’s why we’re so pleased to partner with Child Matters for their Buddy Day. Together we want to show our communities that everyone can play a role in speaking up for New Zealand kids, whether they’re related to them or not.”

Sovereign also has an ongoing relationship with AUT University’s Human Potential Centre, through which it developed New Zealand’s first Sovereign Wellbeing Index.

“Other cultures treat caring for children as a collective community responsibility, even beyond the extended family,” said Drillien.

Buddy Day will be held on 15 November 2013. Ambassadors nationwide will take replica cardboard children, or “little buddies” out into the community to prompt honest and open conversations around child abuse prevention.

To find out more or to register to be involved, visit www.buddyday.org.nz.

ENDS

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