GrandFriends works to combat loneliness and isolation in older people and families

Our story

GrandFriends is a small but mighty charity that combats big issues like isolation and loneliness.

We are the bridge that brings Kiwis together across generations.

Our story began in 2016 when the Surrogate Grandparents Trust was created by our founder Jo Hayes to connect older people and families looking for help, based on her own experience of lacking a mother figure in New Zealand.

We rebranded to GrandFriends in 2020 as we saw an increasing number of people in their 30s and 40s coming forward looking to befriend and support others. These people weren’t always grandparents; they were simply awesome, caring people who wanted to lend a hand. So, the name change was a natural progression from there.

Today, GrandFriends works to match families across New Zealand with older people (still usually in their 50s and upwards), locally to help them make new connections and foster new relationships. These relationships enable both families and older people to access better support networks and enjoy the benefits of multi-generational relationships.

Our Vision

That all New Zealand whanau and GrandFriends are socially connected and fully supported.

Our Mission

To be the connector of generations and the builder of supported families through our GrandFriends programme and other initiatives.

Our Values

Kindness

Generosity

Support for others

Our founder Jo’s story

Hi, I’m Jo. I am originally from the UK and have been living in New Zealand for more than 20 years.

Being a single Mum to two Kiwi kids, and with none of my family based in this hemisphere, was a very lonely and isolating prospect for me. I knew that my kids were missing out on the special relationship with my parents and extended family by us being so far away, and the guilt this brings for me is constant.

Jo, her children and Granny Susan in the early stages of their friendship

However, what was most apparent was our lack of having a “village” around us to support us in times of need — having someone there as back-up. What I had always said that I wanted was a NZ-based “Mum”, and I am so very grateful to have found her! I met “Granny Susan” at my daughter’s daycare. She was there picking up her grandson who is the same age as my daughter, and we talked, and we talked, and we realised that we were kindred spirits. The friendship between her grandson and my daughter, and then her granddaughter and my son, grew into regular after-school play dates, and the idea that I had had when I had my daughter 14 years ago looked like it was going to come to fruition.

I remember speaking to Susan about my idea of setting up an organisation to link families with grandparents one afternoon after daycare, and that conversation was the real start of both the organisation and becoming fully immersed into Granny Susan’s family, and being well and truly supported under her wings — and that is how Surrogate Grandparents was born!

Meet the GrandFriends team

Our Team

Anna

Arwen

Jo

I’m a mother of two very active boys aged 10 and 14. I have a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing and Management and have spent a good portion of my career in operations. I enjoy relationship building which is why Grandfriends caught my attention.
I believe strong connections and communities provide a sense of belonging and contribute to overall well-being and happiness. I love providing support to our members and facilitating matches between Grandfriend and Families.
I’ve been a freelance writer for the past 15 years, writing content for print and online, and, prior to that, I was a newspaper journalist. We moved to New Zealand 19 years ago, and I live on the Kapiti Coast, just north of Wellington, with my husband, teenage son, and two rabbits. I enjoy reading, cross-stitching and walks on the beach.
I work for GrandFriends because we spent our first years as new parents with all our family overseas, and we valued the benefits that our extended village of friends and local community group leaders brought to us. I enjoy being part of an organisation that can bring that village to others who need it.
Originally from the UK, where I spent my working life within sales and event management roles. I planned my OE at the age of 30 to do some travelling around the world and New Zealand being the second stop, was where I have remained ever since. Juggling the role of being a parent, and then single parent alongside work led me to roles within office administration and the non profit industry where I have been able to work from my home, so I could be there for my children if needed. Now, as well as working within GrandFriends, I also support another couple of organisations with bookkeeping and administration, which certainly keeps me out of trouble!
Becoming a single parent was the catalyst to starting GrandFriends, as it was something that I really wanted for my family. You can read more about my story above.