The Jubilee Christian Charitable Trust was established in June 1989 by a small group of families from St David’s Church in Invercargill. Inspired by biblical principles of stewardship, generosity, and sharing resources, the Trust’s vision was to help families achieve financial freedom through interest-free mortgages. At a time when mortgage interest rates were high, the Trust provided interest-free loans that enabled borrowers to become debt-free sooner and, in turn, invest their time, skills, and resources back into their communities.

The original model was simple but powerful. Borrowers repaid their loan over six years, then continued making the same payments during a seventh year, with those funds becoming their savings. This approach encouraged both financial responsibility and long-term stability.

As housing costs increased and lending needs changed over time, the Trust’s ability to provide interest-free mortgages reduced. Today, the Trust continues its mission by offering interest-free loans in specific circumstances. These loans are accessed through Jubilee’s Financial Mentors, who work alongside clients and may recommend assistance where it will support long-term financial wellbeing and stability.

In 1998, Jubilee Budget Advisory Service Ltd was established as a non-profit charitable company owned by the Jubilee Christian Charitable Trust. Its purpose was to complement the Trust’s work by providing budgeting advice, financial mentoring, and financial education to people and whānau throughout Southland. The goal was, and remains, to empower people to become confident stewards of their finances, reduce financial stress, and work towards a future with little or no debt.

In the years that followed, Jubilee expanded its services through its involvement with the SuperGrans movement. Founded in Lower Hutt in 1994 by Erin McMenamin, SuperGrans was established to share practical life skills and knowledge with individuals and whānau, helping them build confidence, resilience, and independence. The philosophy of providing a “hand up, not a handout” aligned closely with Jubilee’s own values and mission.

Jubilee became part of the national SuperGrans network, offering practical programmes and workshops that support everyday life skills, that help people and families thrive. Through mentors and tutors, knowledge is shared across generations, empowering people to strengthen their own skills and build confidence in their daily lives.

As the programme evolved nationally, the name SuperGrans increasingly became known as SuperGrans SuperSkills, reflecting the wider range of learning opportunities available. In Southland, the programme was rebranded as SuperSkills Jubilee, recognising both its connection to the national network and its place within the Jubilee family of services. Today, SuperSkills Jubilee continues to provide practical education, workshops, and community-based learning opportunities that complement Jubilee’s financial mentoring services and support stronger, more resilient communities.

From humble beginnings as a small Invercargill-based service, Jubilee has grown to become Southland’s largest provider of financial mentoring and financial capability services. Today, our main office is located in Invercargill, with regular Country clinics and services extending throughout the region, including Gore, Winton, Te Anau, Riverton, and surrounding communities.

While our services have evolved over the years, our commitment remains unchanged: supporting Southlanders with practical guidance, compassionate support, and opportunities to build stronger financial futures.