Our climate is changing but we can work together to keep the people and places we love safe.

We are experiencing more:

• floods
• storms
• sea-level rise
• heatwaves
• droughts.

This pilot is about helping disability communities prepare for these changes.

Auckland Council is working with disabled people to support projects that make life safer and more liveable as the climate changes.

We have $150,000 to fund projects designed by and for disability communities.

These projects will focus on climate adaptation. They will teach practical and creative ways to live as the climate changes.

This pilot is a partnership between:

• Auckland Council
• our implementation partners (Community Think and Juliana Carvalho)
• a grant advisory panel made up of disability community members.

Our goals:

• Help disability communities to adapt to climate disruption.
• Build skills, knowledge and leadership within disability communities.
• Build trust and strengthen relationships between Auckland Council and disability communities.

The pilot uses participatory grantmaking to decide what to fund.

Participatory grantmaking means that disability communities will:

• help design the grants process
• recommend projects to fund.

• Decisions are guided by lived experience.
• Makes funding fairer and more transparent.
• Builds trust and makes sure projects meet community needs.

Participatory grantmaking allows disabled people to shape the process and recommend which projects are funded. This is different to traditional grants where the decisions are made by funders alone.

• Join the webinar to learn more (link to register).
• Attend a focus group in February 2026.
• Share your ideas for projects to help disability communities adapt to climate change.
  • Example of possible projects include:
    • making climate information more accessible
    • helping disability organisations and leaders take part in planning and policy
    • helping local government and other organisations better support disabled people.

The focus groups will be held in person and on Zoom.

They will help people:

• learn more about climate adaptation
• share ideas about what disability communities need and hope for.

Participants will share project ideas that could be considered for funding. These could be plans or practical actions.

• After collecting feedback and ideas, we will run workshops in April 2026 to help develop project proposals.
• In early May 2026, applicants will present the proposals to the grant advisory panel.
• The grant advisory panel will review the proposals and make recommendations.
• Auckland Council will make the final funding decisions in June 2026.
• Successful projects will start after June 2026.

• Jade Farrar
• Paul Brown
• Philip Patston
• Leslie Marsh
• Monica Leach
• Tamara Grant
• Tracey Gayner