Recreate NZ is delighted to acknowledge the generous support of the The Jenkins Foundation, who contributed $20,000 towards new and accessible bathroom facilities at our Ellerslie head office in Auckland.
Completed in August 2026 by Brendan Smith, the project has made a significant difference to the functionality, accessibility and comfort of our facilities, helping us better support the young people, staff and volunteers who use our space.
The renovations included the upgrading of the men's and women’s toilets, a new laundry tub, washing machine and heat pump dryer, and mirrors and splashback tiling around the new handbasins. Additional work included new framing and Gib board, as well as plastering and painting throughout the toilets and laundry.
The improvements have already made a noticeable difference to the Recreate team and participants. Recreate NZ Office Manager, Denise Torno, shares:
"The new space is amazing! The bathrooms are much more accessible for our young people with disabilities and mobility support needs. Our participants were so excited to see the flash, new bathrooms, and our cleaners are so pleased to help maintain this new development in our building.
The laundry room is a game changer in managing the Recreate office, as staff used to be rostered to bring a week's worth of work laundry home to wash during their personal time. As you can imagine, it became a big personal burden for staff, but now with our new laundry room it is an efficient process and is accessible for programmes to use if any messes or accidents happen!"
The new laundry is particularly valuable, providing a dedicated space to wash participants' clothing when needed, as well as the kitchen cloths and tea towels used across our many overnight camps and getaways. Having these facilities on-site makes day-to-day operations much easier and ensures our programmes are well supported.
Having fit-for-purpose, accessible facilities at our head office helps us create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who comes through our doors.
A huge thank you to the The Jenkins Foundation for their generous $20,000 contribution. Their investment has made a tangible difference to our building, our team and, most importantly, the young people and families we support.