Tango Kilo Mike and Platforms for Good launched a partnership that will provide access to coaching and pastoral support through the Te Heke Mai app and programme to individuals and their families connected with New Zealand Defense Force and Emergency Services
The launch of this partnership was announced on Friday, 23 September 2022 at a fundraising Roll-a-thon event hosted by Tango Kilo Mike at Tukaha, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Auckland to kick off Mental Health Awareness week.
This partnership is an extension to the services already offered by Tango Kilo Mike which includes peer support through martial arts, psychological first aid training, wellbeing management services, and career transition services to serving and former members of the police, military, other emergency services and their whānau.
Chris Collins, Co-founder of Tango Kilo Mike says “the partnership represents a pivotal moment for all current and former uniformed service personnel and their whānau living in Aotearoa. It will provide proven and effective, ongoing support that retains their individuality, courage, and mana regardless of their circumstances. With Te Heke Mai, we are re-imagining what suicide prevention looks like, and it’s a clear game-changer. We are excited to elevate this partnership through manaaki for the benefit of those who protect us.”
Tango Kilo Mike is believed to be the first charity of its kind to provide wrap around support to veterans of the New Zealand Defense Force and Emergency services as they transition and navigate civilian life.
While Platforms for Good is a technology company that uses their technology to connect people in need with communities of support across the globe. He Te Heke Mai app built by Platforms for Good provides an individualised coaching programme that supports those looking for, or recently placed into, work. The coach works with participants to identify goals, the risk factors to their success, and provides support, guidance and the tools to move towards success, what ever that looks like for the individual. Te Heke Mai is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social development.
Platforms for Good CEO, Matt Owens sees “a good synergy between the support Tango Kilo Mike provides to their community, and the mission of Platforms for Good to use their technology to put people in need in contact with communities of support”.
