Annual Report 2017/18 Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2018 2017/18 Legal Name of Entity Spinningtop Trust

Annual Report 2017/18 Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2018 2017/18 Legal Name of Entity SpinningTop Trust

Welcome to SpinningTop’s annual report for 2017/18. Type of Entity and Legal Basis Registered Charity SpinningTop fundraisers – including The Good Guys shows, Defender Bags, The Body Shop support & sales, and our regular Registration Number generous payroll givers – have helped establish some pretty CC10551 amazing, life-changing projects. We’re constantly suprised by what has been achieved. Entity’s Purpose or Mission SpinningTop exists to give balance to vulnerable This report is a chance for us to document some of the highlights children whose lives have been thrown off balance from the 2017/18 year, what we did, how we paid for it, and what through war, oppression, natural disaster and we’re planning for the future. As mentioned, we are indebted to circumstances beyond their control. We believe given the right balance of education, nutrition, our regular donors and anyone who supports us through attending shelter and play vulnerable children will be a fundraising event, volunteering their time or buying a product – empowered to become contributing members of thank you. society free from poverty.

Physical & Postal Address 9-11 Kaiwharawhara Road Kaiwharawhara Wellington 6035

Phone – Annie Fischer 021 032 4714 Office – 04 4607455

www.spinningtop.org facebook.com/spinningtop twitter.com/SpinningTopORG CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2018

I first up wanted to say how grateful we all are for the hard work of Annie, Paul and Ruth, through the 17/18 year. I also want to thank my fellow board members for volunteering their time to help SpinningTop with their skills and passion for the cause. Children on the Edge was first registered with the Charities Services over 11 years ago, then we registered the name change to SpinningTop over 6 years ago. Our mission is to give balance to vulnerable children whose lives have been thrown off balance through war, oppression, natural disaster and circumstances beyond their control. This year has been a good reminder to all of us, that while many of the projects we support are more stable, the situation in Burma is anything but stable. The atrocities against the Rohingya people this year and last show that the situation can change incredibly fast in Burma, this is something we need to ensure we can respond to if needed. I’m proud to say that there have been many times in the past years where our staff and board were able to act quickly and support those who need our help, this is an advantage we have of being a small organisation. It’s a tough fundraising landscape for international organisations based in New Zealand, we have very limited ways of raising funds and I want to thank the team and board for continuing to bring in the funds needed to support the children. Plus I’d like to say thank you to The Body Shop for their continued support and to Hell Pizza for making our comedy shows the amazing events they continue to be. While we often sit behind computers and we meet to discuss the directions and needs of SpinningTop, we all need to sit back and keep remembering that thousands of children on the Thai/Burma border are living better lives each year thanks to SpinningTop’s support. Thank you. Here’s to a great 18/19. Pat Shepherd Chairperson 2017/18 Entity Structure SpinningTop is a registered charity in New Zealand. A Board of Trustees governs SpinningTop Trust. We meet a minimum of three times a year and also communicate over email to discuss operational procedures. Our Trustees are Patrick Shepherd (Chairperson), Barrie Thomas (Treasurer), Shelly Robinson (Trustee), and Callum Davies (Trustee).

Main Source of Entity’s Cash and Resources SpinningTop’s income is based on donations and proceeds from the sale of products and fundraising events.

Main Methods Used by the entity to raise funds We are The New Zealand Body Shop’s charity of choice. They provide office space, covers overheads relating to that space and make a quarterly donation for wages. We then fundraise for our projects by holding events and seeking donations, for example through payroll giving and from Corporates. Our key Corporate sponsors for 17/18 have been the NZ Body Shop and HELL Pizza. We also receive a quarterly donation from the One PerCent Collective.

Our fundraising products vary from our independent line of Defender Bags (www. defenderbags.org) made from recycled billboards to a number of products that we sell through the NZ Body Shop. These items include our handmade wooden spinning top toys and jewellery, plus purses made in Thailand as part of an income generation project.

Entity’s Reliance on Volunteers and donated Goods or Service We have volunteers on an ad hoc basis to help us prepare products for sale. For example if we have a big order for Defender Bags then we might recruit volunteers to come in and help us cut and prepare bags for sewing. Our major source of volunteers has been through Help Tank an online volunteers’ agency. We also have artists and comedians who donate their time and skills to help us fundraise. Annually one or two artists might create an artwork for us that we then use to create a unique product for sale. We also have the goodwill of a number of comedians who perform for us in our annual comedy show during the NZ Comedy Festival, The Good Guys.

Approval of Performance Report The Trustees are pleased to present the approved performance report including the historical financial statements of the SpinningTop Trust for the year ended 31 March 2018.

Barrie Thomas Patrick Shepherd Treasurer Chairperson

Date: 30 November 2018 Date: 30 November 2018 STATEMENT OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE

Description of Entity’s Outcomes 1. Vulnerable children from Burma, living along the Thai/Burma border who had no access to education, attend school. 2. Grassroots organisations, working hard to support vulnerable children from Burma, are strengthened. 3. Traumatised children have had opportunities to express themselves through art. 4. Children living in poverty have confidence in themselves and hope for the future.

Description and quantification of the Entity's Outputs by numbers of children reached 2018 2017

1.Education of migrant children in Thailand

Thoo Mwee Khee School, Phophra 567 424

2.Education of migrant children in Burma (Myanmar)

Stay in Schools: Alternative Education Centre, Myawaddy 500 500 Hter Ther Leh, Karen State 328 250 Kwer Ler Shue, Karen State 88 89 Oo Hue Hta School, Karen State 55 30

3. Contribution of costs towards school agriculture projects

Thoo Mwee Khee, Kitchen Garden Phophra Thailand 567 424 SAW School, Mae Sot Thailand 300 300 Oo Hue Hta School, Karen State 55 30

4. Provision of shelter

Tea Koo Village 200 NA

5. Provision of Play

Kickstart Art, Mobile Art Therapy 1400 1300 SAW Pure Future program, Mae Sot, Thailand 70 70 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Statement of Cash Flows SpinningTop Statement of Financial Performance For the 12 months ended 31 March 2018 SpinningTop Excluding GST 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 Mar 2018 Mar 2017 31 Mar 18 31 Mar 17 Income Income Donations,fundraising and similar revenue $129,931.97 $105,780.89 Donations,fundraising and similar revenue $130,132.22 $105,634.93 Employee giving $12,157.03 $9,386.00 Employee giving $12,157.03 $9,386.00 Revenue from providing goods and services $60,962.38 $55,026.24 Revenue from providing goods and services $60,618.25 $55,026.02 Interest,dividends and other revenue $116.42 $150.43 Interest,dividends and other revenue $116.42 $150.43

Total Income $203,167.80 $170,343.56 Total Income $203,023.92 $170,197.38 Less Operating Expenses Gross Profit $203,023.92 $170,197.38 Public fundraising expenses $6,683.70 $1,951.11 Volunteer and employee related costs $55,387.40 $62,746.01 Less Operating Expenses Costs related to providing goods and services $34,339.80 $26,902.08 Public fundraising expenses $6,683.70 $1,951.11 Grants and donations made $93,157.41 $146,664.17 Volunteer and employee related costs $55,573.53 $63,618.98 Other Expenses $1,826.34 $2,457.83 Costs related to providing goods and services $34,339.80 $26,902.08 Grants and donations made $93,157.41 $146,664.17 Other Expenses $1,826.34 $2,458.51 Total Operating Expenses $191,394.65 $240,721.20

Operating Surplus (Deficit) $11,773.15 -$70,377.64 Total Operating Expenses $191,580.78 $241,594.85 GST Movements Net Profit $11,443.14 -$71,397.47 GST Inputs -$13,123.38 -$8,707.48 GST Outputs $12,419.42 $8,658.38 Net GST Movements -$703.96 -$49.10

Net Cash Movement $11,069.19 -$70,426.74 Please note: In reference to Net Profit, SpinningTop generates funds over a 12 month period which is paid annually to projects. As funds are raised, they Summary are accumulated to make sure we have sufficient funds to cover the following Opening Balance $114,326.65 $184,753.39 year. This gives the organisations we support some certainty in terms of Plus Net Cash Movement $11,069.19 -$70,426.74 future funding. It also allows us to have emergency funding available. Closing Balance $125,395.84 $114,326.65 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION NOTES TO THE PERFORMANCE REPORT Statement of Financial Position SpinningTop As at 31 March 2018 NOTES/DEFINITIONS

31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017 Income

Assets 1. Donations, fundraising and similar revenue 2. Employee giving Bank 3. Revenue from providing goods and services ANZ Current Account $125,395.84 $114,326.65 4. Interest, dividends and other revenue Total Bank $125,395.84 $114,326.65 Notes to the Performance Report Current Assets SpinningTop Accounts Receivable $3,284.86 $3,480.35 For the 12 months ended 31 March 2018 Stock On Hand $4,062.00 $4,062.00 Total Current Assets $7,346.86 $7,542.35 Mar-18 Mar-17 Note

Fixed Assets Income Less Accumulated Depreciation -$326.38 -$326.38 Coloured Gift Tags Sales $1,993.48 $2,510.45 3 Office Equipment $1,958.26 $1,958.26 Corporate Donations $5,245.96 $1,060.49 1 Total Fixed Assets $1,631.88 $1,631.88 Defender Bag Sales $32,909.53 $19,431.29 3 Donated Goods Sold $0.00 $670.08 1 Total Assets $134,374.58 $123,500.88 Employee Giving $12,157.03 $9,386.00 2 Fund Raising Events $13,261.18 $9,798.93 1 Liabilities General Donations $42,251.26 $26,619.15 1 General Sales $34.78 $446.66 3 Current Liabilities Interest Received $100.80 $115.22 4 GST $1,855.69 $2,611.26 Kelly Xmas Tags $5.21 $3.91 3 PAYE Payable $1,059.10 $872.97 Misery Xmas tags sales $15.62 $35.21 4 Rounding $0.68 $0.68 Mothers Day Sales $1,279.13 $2,350.87 3 Total Current Liabilities $2,915.47 $3,484.91 Other Revenue $0.00 $2,819.09 3 Purse Sales $17,696.09 $18,479.59 3 Total Liabilities $2,915.47 $3,484.91 TBS Corporate Donations $64,000.00 $64,000.00 1 TBS Customer Donations $5,373.82 $3,486.28 1 Net Assets $131,459.11 $120,015.97 Wooden Jewellery $60.86 $0.00 3 Wooden Spinning Tops $1,330.02 $2,350.24 3 Equity Xmas Product Sales $5,309.15 $6,633.92 3 Current Year Earnings $11,443.14 -$71,397.47 Total Income $203,023.92 $170,197.38 Retained Earnings $120,015.97 $191,413.44 Total Equity $131,459.11 $120,015.97 Gross Profit $203,023.92 $170,197.38

Less Operating Expenses ACC $354.57 $296.86 5 Accounting Expenses $495.00 $495.00 5 Admin Costs $44.44 $183.57 1 Advertising $0.00 $15.00 5 Bank Fees $328.52 $494.52 5 Consulting & Accounting $0.00 $172.50 5 Entertainment $91.85 $173.67 5 Freight & Courier -$12.00 $319.55 5 Fund Raising Expenses $6,639.26 $1,767.54 1 General Products Purchased $32,275.60 $24,779.16 3 International Web $194.16 $231.30 5 Office Expenses $6.95 $95.21 5 Printing & Stationery $217.39 $0.00 5 Provision of EDUCATION $84,674.02 $134,233.67 4 Provision of PLAY $7,643.52 $7,655.51 4 Provision of SHELTER $839.87 $4,774.99 4 Travel - International $2,064.20 $2,122.92 3 Wages & Salaries $55,573.53 $63,618.98 2 Website $149.90 $164.90 5 Total Operating Expenses $191,580.78 $241,594.85

Net Profit $11,443.14 -$71,397.47 Notes to the Performance Report SpinningTop For the 12 months ended 31 March 2018

Mar-18 Mar-17 Note

Income Coloured Gift Tags Sales $1,993.48 $2,510.45 3 Corporate Donations $5,245.96 $1,060.49 1 Defender Bag Sales $32,909.53 $19,431.29 3 Donated Goods Sold $0.00 $670.08 1 Employee Giving $12,157.03 $9,386.00 2 Fund Raising Events $13,261.18 $9,798.93 1 General Donations $42,251.26 $26,619.15 1 General Sales $34.78 $446.66 3 Interest Received $100.80 $115.22 4 Kelly Xmas Tags $5.21 $3.91 3 MiseryExpenses Xmas tags sales $15.62 $35.21 4 Mothers Day Sales $1,279.13 $2,350.87 3 1. Public fundraising expenses Other Revenue $0.00 $2,819.09 3 Property, plant and equipment 2. Volunteer and employee related costs Purse Sales $17,696.09 $18,479.59 3 3. Costs related to providing goods and services The Trust has a total of $1632 in property, plant and equipment. TBS Corporate Donations $64,000.00 $64,000.00 1 4. Grants and donations made This is broken down into two Acer Laptops TBS Customer Donations $5,373.82 $3,486.28 5. Other expenses 1 Wooden Jewellery $60.86 $0.00 3 Please note, SpinningTop has no commitments including Leases. We work out of the NZ Body Shops offices. Likewise, there are no contingent liabilities, loans or events after the balance date. Wooden SpinningNotes Tops to the Performance$1,330.02 Report $2,350.24 3 Xmas Product Sales SpinningTop$5,309.15 $6,633.92 3 Total IncomeFor the 12 months ended$203,023.92 31 March 2018$170,197.38 Reporting Entity The Trust is a Registered Charitable Trust registered under the Charities Act 2005 (CC10551). Gross Profit $203,023.92 $170,197.38 Mar-18 Mar-17 Note It is a tier 3 Charity. SpinningTop is a charity for the support and protection of vulnerable children.

IncomeLess Operating Expenses ColouredACC Gift Tags Sales $1,993.48$354.57 $2,510.45$296.86 35 Statement of Accounting Policies CorporateAccounting Donations Expenses $5,245.96$495.00 $1,060.49$495.00 15 These accounts have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice DefenderAdmin Costs Bag Sales $32,909.53$44.44 $19,431.29$183.57 31 in New Zealand. DonatedAdvertising Goods Sold $0.00 $670.08$15.00 15 EmployeeBank Fees Giving $12,157.03$328.52 $9,386.00$494.52 25 FundConsulting Raising & AccountingEvents $13,261.18$0.00 $9,798.93$172.50 15 General Accounting Policies GeneralEntertainment Donations $42,251.26$91.85 $26,619.15$173.67 15 The measurement basis adopted is historical cost. GeneralFreight & Sales Courier -$12.00$34.78 $446.66$319.55 35 InterestFund Raising Received Expenses $6,639.26$100.80 $1,767.54$115.22 41 Specific Accounting Policies KellyGeneral Xmas Products Tags Purchased $32,275.60$5.21 $24,779.16$3.91 3 MiseryInternational Xmas Webtags sales $194.16$15.62 $231.30$35.21 45 Inventory MothersOffice Expenses Day Sales $1,279.13$6.95 $2,350.87$95.21 35 Stock is valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value. OtherPrinting Revenue & Stationery $217.39$0.00 $2,819.09$0.00 35 Goods and Services Tax PurseProvision Sales of EDUCATION $17,696.09$84,674.02 $134,233.67$18,479.59 34 The entity is registered for GST purposes and the financial statements are GST exclusive. Provision of PLAY $7,643.52 $7,655.51 4 TBS Corporate Donations $64,000.00 $64,000.00 1 Income Tax Provision of SHELTER $839.87 $4,774.99 4 TBS Customer Donations $5,373.82 $3,486.28 1 The charity is a registered charity and is exempt from income tax. WoodenTravel - International Jewellery $2,064.20$60.86 $2,122.92$0.00 3 Audit WoodenWages & Spinning Salaries Tops $55,573.53$1,330.02 $63,618.98$2,350.24 32 These accounts have not been audited. XmasWebsite Product Sales $5,309.15$149.90 $6,633.92$164.90 35 Total IncomeOperating Expenses $203,023.92$191,580.78 $170,197.38$241,594.85

GrossNet Profit Profit $203,023.92$11,443.14 $170,197.38-$71,397.47

Net Profit $11,443.14 -$71,397.47 Our Focus TMK UMBRELLA SCHOOLS SpinningTop’s focus for the year has been continuing to provide aid to TMK has three (primary) schools which they oversee in the Karen State. migrant and refugee children in Burma and on the border with Thailand. They are Htee Ther Leh, Kwer Le Shue and Oo Hue Hta. The area is in a state of flux and, while some positive change is occurring, there is still considerable poverty and risk – especially for children. OO HUE HTA – Run by previous TMK star student, Kunu Key Projects TMK - Thoo Mweh Khee Migrant Learning Centre, Phopra

The unstoppable Pastor Peacefully continues to amaze – his “relentless positivity” is infectious. TMK keeps growing, and with three other schools in Karen State under its umbrella (see schools following), they have big plans for establishing more schools across Karen State. Recently they opened ‘Noe Baw Wah’ school in conjunction with other villages. A passing traveller who came to stay donated $27k which covered the construction costs.

All their food is organic and production is Kunu’s roll has remained steady at 55, and pieces including her home-made fish flourishing. including 35 in the dorm. The dorm mother paste which she exports to ex-pat Karen. Education: This year, we funded Kindergarten has recently had a baby so is only able to Plus, she has had a lot of luck with her pigs and Years 1-10. They are starting to see ex do the cooking tasks. And while they are they now have 40 and many of them are pupils return to their villages to help run the getting less rice from the Mae Tao Clinic pregnant. local schools. The number of students studying (four bags instead of 11) Kunu is making up for tertiary qualifications continues to grow. the short fall herself. Agriculture Project: The agriculture project [In 2014, Kunu chose to return to her is in amazing shape providing a major source She has an entrepreneurial streak. Her home village after graduating from Thoo of food for the dormitory. Students work on ten Facebook shop is thriving, helping to fund Mwee Khee school - to set up a school different agriculture plots. They are growing the project. She also has a little store selling and encourage the community to see the roselle, long bean, morning glory, cucumber, traditional Karen clothing and other bits benefits of education.] egg plant, okra, cabbage, lettuce and sweet potato. They have also re-started pig and - Run by chicken projects. HTEE THER LEH Village Leader, Pastor and BACKGROUND: [TMK is a project SpinningTop has supported for ten years, run Principal Moe Moe Eh. by the charismatic Pastor Peacefully in Karen The school role has continued to State. It began with around 50 students and grow – from 270 pupils last year to has now grown to a role of around 600 plus 42 336 this year! The villagers see the teachers, including 9 volunteers.] school as the hub of the community and realise the importance of education. While they now have several solar panels, their main issue is water. The little pool they bathe in and their of teachers salaries has been an immense benefit drinking water is not good - it has to as it provided stability with staffing. be carried a long way from a river. [Built with proceeds from The Good Guys shows The area surrounding the village has in 2013, the impressive Htee Ther Leh school, become quite unstable. This year began with around 200 children (now 336), and a we had to travel by army vehicle number of children live there during term time as it around the region. Our contribution is too far to travel or unsafe to return home.]

Exam time KWER LER SHUE – An isolated village in the Karen jungle KICK START ART – Art Therapy in Mae Sot, Thailand This school is looking at a massive expansion of their agriculture project in conjunction Back across the border in Mae Sot the These classes are such a highlight for the with Pastor Peacefully. Excess food from their agriculture project is already being sold at brilliant little organisation KickStart ART kids, they are fun and inspiring and can be their shop to the village. brings creativity, expression and imagination a great opportunity to express themselves, Several graduated students from TMK are running the school, with supervision from Pastor to more than 1500 kids each week. most having suffered poverty and often Peacefully who stops by on his way to the agriculture project. tragedy. This mobile art therapy programme, We are continuing to pay the teachers to ensure stability. These teachers also act as begun by an English artist/educator training We support them to cover teachers and important leaders in the local community. local artists as teachers, is now run by material costs to make these inspiring local Myanmar artist John Khai: classes happen. [In 2013, the village at Mae K’Lah was identified as a good central point to build a new school, to service six villages in the area. Few of the hundreds of children in the area were “We’ve been busy in schools this week! [KickStart ART deliver art classes for free to able to access any form of education. The community had plans and made a good case to Our students have been working together schools and migrant learning centres where us and we decided to commit funds from the comedy shows in 2014 to build this school. to create their own villages out of paint the art curriculum is very basic. The new school now has good classrooms, a dormitory, a dining area and bathrooms. It and collages. We’ve been focusing on the In 2015, KickStart ART was operating in launched in June 2015.] use of colour, as well as mixing different seven schools. We helped them expand to mediums!” nine. They now work with 14 local schools plus one school in Myawaddy at Lay Kay “Thank you all for your continued love and Law.] support.”

School art therapy classes STAY IN SCHOOL – Myawaddy, While many of the NGO’s are moving Burma. Run by Nyein Nyein into Burma they do not seem to go to Myawaddy. It was a tough year for Stay-In-School as they continued their focus on providing [In 2016, we were thrilled to support the education to working children. They are opening of an alternative education centre active in anti-human and drug trafficking in Myawaddy, Burma. SpinningTop and prevention, a very serious issue for Burma. StayinSchool opened the centre to provide a place for young people outside the formal They continue their classes at the Education education system to learn. Centre and they are expanding the mobile Many children in Myawaddy leave school training programme. They are also running around 12 years of age or younger a training programme for teachers and and begin working. Often they head to sending young people to vocational training dangerous jobs like forestry or construction run by the government. where they earn very little money for SpinningTop was able to cover costs of very hard work. SIS champions child- running the Education Centre in Myawaddy. centred learning and works hard to keep And they rely on other donors for their young people in learning for their own Summer art camp for kids with massive talent mobile training programmes to schools immediate safety and to build their future around the area. opportunities.] SAW – Social Action for Woman

SAW is an education centre in Mae Sot that also has a safe house for Women, a dormitory, and runs several education programmes including anti-trafficking.

The Thai Government recognises the work they do for anti-trafficking and are a critical part of the Mae Sot anti- trafficking team.

One-off Projects

Tea Koo Village School Construction is about to begin on this grass roots project in a remote corner of Shan State. This will be massive for their community. The graduated TMK student who will be the Principal has support from the village elders. SpinningTop support will cover the following: 1. Building a toilet and a small teacher’s office In November, SAW opened their new SAFE weekly class has been helping kids in their 2. Providing education basics like exercise and reading books, and basic sports house for woman on their own land, which shelters work through their trauma and equipment like balls for football and volleyball will be a huge saving on rent. They are provide hope, for years. For $2,000NZD we also putting the finishing touches to two sponsor this programme for a whole year. 3. A small stock of medicines (in the rainy season students get sick with basic diseases other buildings that were funded by MMC like dengue, fever and diarrhoea and miss school if there is no medicine.) Purses: These colourful, handmade purses (Medical Mercy Canada) and a Thai donor. 4. Roofing the school with permanent materials. (At present the roofing has to be are still very popular. We continue to sell They estimate it will be three years before renewed each year, not like the leaf roofs you see around TMK which last for 3 years.) they have moved every part of SAW. a large number The Body Shop stores throughout NZ. 5. A small extension to the school building. These purses are School agriculture project: 6. A solar panel & battery This is still in incredible shape. made by the women The gardens are producing who live in the SAW 7. Teacher salaries June 18 to Mar 19. enough to sell to the local safe house. It’s an community. They also use income generating the agriculture projects to idea the women teach the children practical have developed skills. SpinningTop has also themselves. All contributed to SAW’s school proceeds from the operation costs. sale of these purses help support the Pure Future Programme: women, the safe- Also in our very important house and the PLAY category of support is school. Pure Future (top right). This SpinningTop’s income is based on donations and proceeds from the sale of products and fundraising events. Fundraising “The Year of the Defender Bag!” As you’ve probably heard, single-use plastic bags on the way The Team out in New Zealand. We’re thrilled that the discussion in the mainstream is turning to alternatives. And our range of durable Defender Bags are ideal. Being recycled from vinyl billboards around Wellington, we cut and clean the vinyl and then have them professionally sewn locally. Each bag is unique, strong, colourful and environmentally kind. New products – from makeup bags, to tablet sleeves, to the new tote style – have increased sales this year. As well as corporate orders from NZ Post and Plunket. It is the year of the Defender Bag! We’re excited about what will develop for these products. Annie will be attending the Spring Day to day running of SpinningTop is taken care of by Annie Fischer (left). Retail Fair in Auckland to shop our shoppers to more stores. defenderbags.org Paul Dodge (middle) photographs, writes and edits to help tell our stories. Ruth Carr (right) has a role in the Defender Bags department, watch this space Products & campaigns instore at The Body Shop for brand new products and styles! $35,643 was raised through product sales. The majority of our sales income is made possible through our alignment with The Body Shop NZ and their generous permission to position some of our products instore. And to YOU, our amazing regular donors, payroll givers, random donation We also have products available in their online store (thebodyshop.co.nz). givers, good vibe and other forms of support givers – the world is now a bit SpinningTop products include fair trade purses, locally hand-made more balanced because of your support. spinning tops and gift tags featuring images from the children and projects we support). We are also able to stock extra products around Mother’s Day We couldn’t do it without you. and Christmas. One Percent Collective THANK YOU! A huge shout out to thosee supporters who choose to donate 1% of their income regularly to SpinningTop. These donations accounts for 10% of our yearly fundraising. That is incredible! Find out how a little goes a really long way at onepercentcollective.org Payroll givers Several businesses and individuals provide invaluable support to SpinningTop through regular payroll giving. Thank you!

The Good Guys – 10th Anniversary Shows In 2017, we held our 10th Anniversary of The Good Guys comedy fundraiser shows – these were epic! In Wellington we hired The Boatshed overlooking the harbour and the comedians rose to the occassion. The increased ticket price even included pre-show pizza, and the night was completely sold out. This success was at Q Theatre in Auckland the following week. due to the amazing HELL Pizza covering all Thanks to our other sponsors, our generous pizzas and show expenses. comedians (pictured), and those who came and This was followed up by another cracker show supported the shows. Legends! 2018 and beyond Historically donor aid has mainly been given on the Thai side. In recent years however, the donor distribution has begun changing, and SpinningTop is now supporting only two schools on the Thai side. Many of our projects are increasingly in Karen State where schools can have their own identity and culture. This has been a natural progression that we wish to continue to support. SpinningTop was set up to “give balance to vulnerable children living in poverty, whose lives have been thrown off balance through war, oppression, natural disaster and circumstances beyond their control”. Given what is happening on the Myanmar/Bangladesh border we feel it is time for us to go back to our roots and continue to help some children who are in the most staggeringly awful situations.