Canteen Aotearoa is the only national charitable organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand supporting rangatahi aged 13-24 impacted by cancer, whether they are dealing with their own diagnosis or cancer in their whānau. Canteen provides free psychosocial support services, including individual counselling and therapeutic support, peer events, camps, rangatahi development programmes, and specialised online support. Canteen receives no direct government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of our community to fund our vital support services.

In 2023, Canteen supported more than 750 rangatahi impacted by cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand, and in an evaluation of our services we found that after receiving Canteen support, there was a 55% decrease in the number of rangatahi who were at high risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  Canteen is a safe space for rangatahi to connect, share the tough stuff, and get a break from cancer when they need it.