About Wesley College

Known as “The Home of the Hearty” and located in Paerata at the northern edge of Pukekohe in Auckland, Wesley College is New Zealand’s oldest registered school, founded in 1844.  Wesley College students come from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds, and the co-educational school provides them with the opportunity to excel academically, spiritually, culturally and in sport. Having a proud rugby tradition, Wesley College is the most successful 1st XV in New Zealand, with five national titles under their belt.

What the grant went towards

Funding from Grassroots Trust over the years has provided ongoing support for Wesley College’s sporting programmes, with a recent grant enabling the college to purchase six rugby kits for players in their junior and senior rugby teams.

What this meant for the organisation and its members

Principal, Steve Hargreaves, explains: “We are a decile one school that works with students from families under financial pressure. The funding support from Grassroots Trust enables us to run a sport programme without having to divert operations funding from core educational activities.”

Players appreciate the new kits, especially because the socks sport the school crest and the shirts have the school prayer sewn in to the back. As player Junior Lemalu comments: “Our school is known as the Home of the Hearty, and it is great that we have a fierce new kit for the field.”