We need your help!
The Problem
For centuries practical skills have been gatekept from women - they still are:
99.86% of plumbers in Aotearoa are men
>97% of all trade workers are men
18% gender pay gap in construction, double the national average
37% of women leave apprenticeships due to poor workplace culture
Men make three times more ACC claims than women in trades
There is virtually no data on rainbow communities in trades
Our Solution
A world-first workshop exclusively for women and gender minorities:
Safe & Inclusive: Where our community can learn and build without fear
Hands-On Skills Training: From basic DIY, wood and metalworking, to pathways into trades
Community & Connection: A place to see yourself reflected in a community of capable peers
Tangible Empowerment: Building the resilience and self-sufficiency to shape the world around us
Cahoots Workshop
We’ve already achieved incredible results with minimal funding:
We built the entire workshop for under $45,000 demonstrating exceptional fiscal responsibility
>450 people were on our wait list before our doors even opened
We’re being funded by Te Pūkenga (BCITO) to develop member pathways to industry
In our first week we ran 29 trainings and onboarded 22 people
The Ask
We’re raising $50,000 in bridge funding to reach financial sustainability in 2026 so we can:
Continue onboarding core sustaining members
Deliver classes to our community
Begin trade training and apprenticeships in partnership with industry
Provide diversity trainings to industry organisations
Conduct research to support rainbow communities in trades
Develop a growth strategy to broaden our impact
Donate Now
Invest in a globally innovative grassroots organisation at this critical moment.
Directly at www.cahoots.nz/donate
To have a conversation about making a major impact, contact:
Jade Musther - Founder & GM
jade@cahoots.nz