Where we’ve come from
In February 1982, a small group of visionaries from Glen Eden Baptist Church in West Auckland, gathered to talk about what tangible things they could do to meet the needs of the vulnerable in their community. A decision was made to take over the derelict local railway station – leased from the Council for one dollar a year – to establish a drop-in centre. Within a short time, various programmes were running out of the station including a playgroup, support group for the unemployed, and public health nurse visits.
In November 1988, The Friendship Centre Trust was incorporated to facilitate the addition of extra support services to the community. In July 2010, the Trust and all its services were rebranded to become The Visionwest Community Trust.
Since those early days, the Trust has grown to where it now provides wraparound support through a wide range of services. With offices throughout New Zealand, the Trust employs almost 1,700 people and reaches tens of thousands of kiwis each year.
Throughout our history, two attitudes have provided a foundation to the work of the Trust – a willingness to innovate and grow to meet emerging needs, and a steadfast commitment to upholding the mana of every individual we support and employ. It’s these attitudes that continue to steer the Trust and propel it forward as we build hope together in the communities we serve.

Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga story
We create pathways for vulnerable whānau to rise out of poverty, isolation, homelessness, and joblessness by providing comprehensive wraparound services.
Our team supports children, young people, families, people with disabilities and the elderly with an unwavering hope for a better tomorrow.