Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou is a charity that actively supports the tamariki and whānau of people in prison or those serving a community-based sentence; to create positive futures for themselves.

Children of people in prison are often socially and economically isolated and with no support are 9.5x more likely to go to prison themselves. Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou goal is to help stop intergenerational offending, so children of people in prison do not become the next generation incarcerated. This is done through wrap around social work support, coupled with a mentoring programme where a volunteer mentor is matched with a child or youth who becomes a stable and positive role model for them.

Since winning, Pillars has established the first ever Youth Advisory Panel for children of people in prison. Creating change for other young people with whānau in prison and to ultimately contribute to the wider transformative justice conversation.