Back a Bro
He put his hand up. Help us say yes.
When a man reaches out to RISE on his own because he wants to stop hurting the people he loves, no government funding comes with him. Right now RISE pays for his place out of its own pocket. Back a Bro makes sure we never have to turn him away.
For most men reaching out is the hardest thing to do, and when you get told no we can't help, it really has a big impact on them.Logan, Back a Bro campaign champion
What changes
When men do the work, whānau are safer
Everyone who finishes working with RISE is asked what changed. Since August 2024, 462 people have filled in an evaluation. These results come from the 284 who took part in our Non-Violence Programme.
Percentage who agreed or strongly agreed, out of Non-Violence Programme participants who answered each question. RISE client evaluations, August 2024 – September 2026.
Every person who came to the Non-Violence Programme on their own and answered the question said their family is safer now.
“Interactions with the boys/kids is more positive. Time spent together as a family has increased. Communication between my partner and I is healthier.”
Reached out to RISE himself, Non-Violence Programme“Thank you RISE for all you have done for me & my children and our future.”
Self-referred, Non-Violence Programme“I have changed so much others have noticed it in me.”
Self-referred, Non-Violence Programme“Attend RISE willingly, it really helps whānau.”
Self-referred, Non-Violence ProgrammeWhy Back a Bro
The man who asks for help early is the one we can do the most for
Some men come to RISE because a court or government agency sends them, and a contract pays for their place. Others pick up the phone themselves. They have noticed their anger is frightening their partner or their kids, and they want to change before someone gets hurt.
Those men come with no funding at all. RISE supports them now from its own resources, and that can't last. Back a Bro exists so that when a man puts his hand up, the answer is always yes.
Helping early is where the gains are greatest. It comes before the police callout, before the protection order, and before tamariki grow up thinking this is how men behave. Each man takes as long as he needs. There is no fixed number of sessions.
“I just wish I had known there was this sort of support available a long time ago, because perhaps I wouldn't be where I am now.” Paul*, RISE Non-Violence Programme
Sent by a court or agency Government funded
- Harm has usually already happened
- Police, courts or Corrections are involved
- Referred to RISE, contract pays
Reaches out himself No funding
- He sees the pattern and wants it to stop
- He calls RISE, often before any crisis
- RISE covers his place from its own resources, until Back a Bro takes it over
What your backing pays for
- Weekly group sessions with skilled facilitators
- One-on-one support where he needs it
- Wraparound support for him and his whānau
- Kai and practical resources
Our champion
One bro backs another, and another
Logan came to RISE at one of the lowest points of his life. Today he is the champion of Back a Bro. Read Logan's story
Backing a bro is not just backing one bro, because you back one bro and eventually they back another and another and another, which will continue to happen, causing that small ripple effect that supports so many others than just one bro.
I couldn't be more excited to support such a kaupapa.
Logan, from his letter joining the Back a Bro campaignIn their words
Men who did the work
These men chose to share what changed for them. Names are changed to protect them and their whānau.
Back a Bro
He's made the hard decision. Yours is easy.
Give weekly through Givealittle, or make a one-off gift here. Donations over $5 qualify for a 33% tax credit, so a Bro gift of $40 a week costs you $26.67.
Over a year, $2,080 backs one man through his whole journey.
Weekly giving and payroll giving are set up through Givealittle. Givealittle sends your receipt, and you claim the 33% tax credit from Inland Revenue. Through payroll giving the credit comes off straight away.
For employers
Back a Bro at work
Some of the men who reach out to RISE work for you, and so do their partners. When he gets help, the whole household does better, at home and at work.
a year: the upper estimate of what family violence costs the New Zealand economy.
Kahui and Snively for the Glenn Inquiry, 2014. The most recent national estimate.a year: the estimated cost to New Zealand employers, through lost productivity, turnover and retraining.
Kahui, Ku and Snively for the PSA, 2014of men in a violence programme said their violence had hurt their job performance.
Survey of 500 men in Ontario partner assault programmes, University of Toronto and Western University, 2017used work time to contact or monitor their partner, and nearly 1 in 10 caused or nearly caused a workplace accident.
Same study, 2017Back a group of men
$2,080 backs one man's whole journey. Your business can back five men, ten men, or a whole group each year, and we'll report back on what changed, without ever identifying anyone.
Match your team's giving
Offer Back a Bro through payroll giving and match what your staff give. It doubles the impact and shows your people where you stand.
Make help easy to find
Put RISE on your wellbeing page and in your EAP information, so a man in your team who is worried about his own behaviour knows where to go.
Train your people with Be There
Be There, powered by RISE, gives staff the confidence to notice and respond when something isn't right. It meets your psychosocial risk duties and builds a safer culture.
Ways to give
Choose what works for you
Weekly or payroll giving
Choose Mate, Bro or Legend on Givealittle. You can give by card each week, or through your pay if your employer offers payroll giving.
Go to Back a Bro on GivealittleOne-off gift
Give once, by card or internet banking. Use "Back a Bro" and your name as the reference so we can send your receipt.
- Account name
- TBC
- Account number
- TBC
Leave a gift in your will
A bequest to RISE helps the next generation of men break the cycle long after today. We are happy to talk it through in confidence.
Ask about bequestsWhere your money goes
Back a Bro gifts fund places for men who reach out to RISE themselves and come with no other funding. We publish what our programmes achieve.
Protecting the men we work with
Every story here is shared with consent, and names are changed. You back the programme, not an individual, so no one's progress is ever reported to donors.
Accountable
RISE has worked with whānau in Te Tauihu for over 38 years and is approved by the Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Justice and Ara Poutama Aotearoa. Registered charity CC24151.
Safer homes start with one man deciding to change
When a man changes, his partner is safer, his kids grow up with a different picture of what a man is, and his mates see that asking for help is possible. Back him, and you back all of them.