PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island

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PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
PEOPLE
                            Helping People
                            The magazine of Presbyterian Support Upper South Island

                            ISSUE 4                                    Winter 2018

                   • E motion coaching helps kids,
                     strengthens families
On the cover:
                   • Let's celebrate Matariki together
I'll meet you at   • Meet some amazing Enliven volunteers
the Trash Lab!     • Vulnerable young people find success
                                                                People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island) is                                                                                              A Karakia for Matariki

a non-profit social services organisation serving                                                                                         Matariki te tipua

the West Coast, Mid-Canterbury, Christchurch,                              A Time for                                                     Matariki te tawhito
                                                                                                                                          Tau mai te wairua

North Canterbury, Marlborough, and Nelson.                                 Connection                                                     Mai ngā ira atua
                                                                                                                                          Ki te ira tangata
                                                                                                                                          Tihei mauriora!

Through our service groups Family Works                                    A message from Presbyterian Support Upper                      Matariki the sacred
and Enliven we support children, young                                     South Island Chief Executive, Vaughan Milner.                  Matariki the old
                                                                                                                                          Welcome the spirit
people, families, whānau and older people                                  Ways to tackle the poverty of relationships or social          Welcome the life force
to become safe, strong, and connected.                                     poverty are the theme of this edition of People Helping        From the essence of Atua
                                                                                                                                          To us of the human kind
To learn more or to find a service centre,                                 People. In this era of electronic communication and
go to www.psuppersouth.org.nz.                                             technology it’s easy to overlook how important respectful      Let there be life!
                                                                           and caring personal contacts are for wellbeing. People
                                                                           helping and connecting with others is the essence of
                                                                           community. Whiria ki te tangata - weave the people together.
Like us on Facebook.

                                                                           Vaughan Milner

© PSUSI, May 2018
People Helping People Magazine is published 3-4 times per year.
To subscribe for free, go to www.psuppersouth.org.nz/php.
Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island)
Unit 4, 25 Churchill Street Christchurch 8013
PO Box 13171 Christchurch 8141
Ph: 03 366 5472   E-mail: ps@psusi.org.nz
Editorial: Vivienne Wallace viviennew@psusi.org.nz

                                                            Our services

                                                                                                                                                    1 People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Why not snuggle up warm with your family and                                                     Starry
                                                                                                            whānau and, if you don’t already celebrate Matariki,                                             Night

                  Matariki:
                                                                                                            create some of these new traditions:
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Biscuits
                                                                                                            ✹Share a Family Feast ✹
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Based on a recipe by Nigella Lawson.
                                                                                                               1                                               5
                                                                                                                                        Renew New Year's                                                     175 g butter

                                               Aotearoa’s Very Own Celebration                                                    Resolutions
                                                                                                            Matariki is a fantastic opportunity to bring
                                                                                                                                                                                                             200 g brown sugar
                                                                                                                                                                                                             2 x eggs
                                                                                                            family together over a celebratory meal.                                                         ¼ t almond extract
                                                                                                                                                           New Year's Resolutions are typically
                                                                                                            Especially, with delicious and versatile                                                         350 g flour
                                                                                                                                                           made in January, but by the time June
                                                                                                            vegetables such as kumara, parsnip,                                                              50 g ground almonds
                                                                                                                                                           rolls around they are long forgotten.
                                                                                                            pumpkin, and yams all in season.                                                                 1 t salt
                                                                                                                                                           Why not use Matariki as a time to
                  Chicks and baby bunnies in autumn? Pumpkins in spring?                                                                                   renew your resolutions?                           Star-shaped cookie cutter

                  Snowflake decorations and big roast turkeys on a hot                                      ✹Make food together ✹Decorate
                                                                                                               2
                                                                                                                                                               6
                                                                                                                                                                                                             2 x non-stick or lined baking trays
                                                                                                                                                                                                             FOR THE ICING:
                                                                                                                                                                                                             300 g icing sugar
                  summer’s day? How fortunate we are that in the long,                                      Matariki is a time of teaching and learning,
                                                                                                            and the kitchen is an awesome place to
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Water to mix

                  cold and dark months of winter we have Matariki,                                          pass on skills from one to another. How
                                                                                                            about using seasonal veggies in creative
                                                                                                                                                           Finally, a reason for fairy lights against NZ’s
                                                                                                                                                           wintry night’s sky. Celebrate the cheer of
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Yellow food colouring

                  the Māori new year.                                                                       ways (kumara pie for dessert!), or bake star
                                                                                                                                                           Matariki with neighbours as you light up
                                                                                                                                                           trees, windows, and doorways. Homemade
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Preheat the oven to 180° C.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the
                                                                                                            cookies for decorating as well as eating.
                                                                                                                                                           decorations crafted with children are the         eggs and almond extract.
                                                                                                            (See our recipes on pages 3 and 13.)
                                                                                                                                                           very best.                                        In a separate bowl, combine the dry

                  In Aotearoa we can celebrate together
                  our very own tradition of thankfulness,
                                                               What is Matariki?                            ✹Give Thanks
                                                                                                               3
                                                                                                                                                           ✹   7
                                                                                                                                                                 Get up early for some
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ingredients, then gradually add them to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                             butter mixture. If the mixture is too sticky for
                                                                                                                                                                                                             rolling, add a little flour.

                  connecting with family and whānau,           Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster
                                                                                                            Make your Matariki feast a thanksgiving
                                                                                                            one, with each member of the family
                                                                                                                                                           sleepy Matariki star gazing                       Halve the dough, shape each half into a fat
                                                                                                                                                                                                             disc, and chill in a covered bowl or re-usable
                  remembering loved ones, telling              of seven stars known as the Pleiades.        taking time to share what they’re thankful      Simon Lewis of the Canterbury                    plastic bag for at least an hour.
                  stories, sharing delicious seasonal          Matariki appears in the eastern sky          for. Research shows that thankfulness is a     Astronomical Society recommends                   Roll out one disc onto a floured surface until
                  kai, and preparing for the year ahead.       sometime around the shortest day of the      key to joy and happiness. So Matariki is a     binoculars! He says, “From mid June, just         it is ½ cm thick. Cut out the star shapes and place
                                                               year, and is thought to determine how        great opportunity for children to learn this   before sunrise, Matariki will lie low on          onto the baking tray. Repeat with the second disc.
                  Matariki is rich with tradition. This        successful the harvest crop will be in the   important practice.                            the Eastern horizon. Find Orion's belt,
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Bake for 8-12 minutes. The biscuits will look
                  year it officially begins on 15 June 2018.   coming season.                                                                              sometimes called ‘the pot’, then look to

                                                                                                            ✹Tell Family Stories
                                                                                                                                                                                                             lightly golden around the edges and pale in
                                                                                                                                                           the left.
                                                               The brighter the stars, the more                4                                           You will see Matariki sparkling in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                             the middle. Ice when cool.
                                                               productive the crop will be. Nowadays,                                                      pre-dawn light. As the weeks progress,
                                                               Matariki is seen as an important time to     At Matariki, focussing on whakapapa gives      Matariki will rise a little higher each day,
                                                               celebrate the earth, and show respect for    us a better understanding of who we are,       so keep trying if on a particular day your
                                                               the land on which we live.                   where we come from, and where we are           view is obstructed, or if the sky is cloudy.”
                                                                                                            going. This understanding builds resilience
                                                                                                            in children especially as they experience
                                                                                                            challenges. So encourage grandparents to       Wish family and whānau a
                                                                                                            tell stories of when they were young, share
                                                                                                            stories of challenges and trials the family
                                                                                                                                                           happy new year. “Ngā mihi
                                                                                                            has lived through, and reminisce about         o te tau hou”.
                                                                                                            good times.

Winter 2018   2                                                                                                                                                                                                                3   People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Tuning                                               Emotionally intelligent children enjoy increased

When school
                                                                                                                                          self-confidence, greater physical health, better performance
                                                                                     in to Kids                                           in school, and healthier social relationships.

                                                                                     parenting
isn’t “fine”:
                                                                                                                                          Several times a year, Family Works offers
                                                                                                                                          Canterbury parents the opportunity to

                                                                                     programme                                            attend the parenting programme Tuning
                                                                                                                                          in to Kids. Tuning in to Kids is a 6-session
                                                                                                                                                                                                “
                                                                                                                                                                                                                their children’s
                                                                                                                                          course that teaches parents skills in
Emotion coaching                                                                                                                          emotion coaching, which is to recognise,              don’t object to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                ger, sadness,
                                                                                                                                          understand and respond to children’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                 displays of an
helps a son open                                                                                                                                                                                                  they ignore
                                                                                                                                                                                                 or fear. Nor do
                                                                                                                                          emotions in an accepting, supportive way.
                                                                                                                                          This approach helps children to become
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 , they accept
up to his mum                                                                                                                                                                                    them. Instead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 tions as a
                                                                                                                                          emotionally intelligent, i.e., to understand
                                                                                                                                                                                                  negative emo
                                                                                                 Kate Jones, Family Works social worker
                                                                                                                                          and manage their emotions.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 d they use
                                                                                                                                                                                                  fact of life an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ments as
                                                                                                                                          Tuning in to Kids is an international
                                                                                                                                          programme created by Dr Sophie Havighurst               emotional mo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  s for teaching
                                                                                                                                          and Anne Harley at the University of
                                                                                                                                                                                                   opportunitie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ortant life
                                                                                                                                                                                                   their kids imp
                                                                                                                                          Melbourne. It is based on the research of
                                                                                                                                          renowned psychologist Dr John Gottman.                                    ilding closer
                                                                                                                                          TIK has been proven to improve parenting,                lessons and bu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ith them.”
                                                                                                                                          parent-child relationships, children’s                    relationships w
                                                                                                                                          emotional competence, and behaviour.                                          ,
                                                                                                                                                                                                     John M. Gottman                        Child
                                                                                                                                                                                                           ng an Em ot io nally Intelligent
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Raisi
                                                                                                                                          If you would like to learn more,
                                                                                                                                          contact Janice Huddy in
                                                                                                                                          Christchurch at 03 363 8214
                                                                                                                                          or janiceh@psusi.org.nz.

                   Like many mums, Maggie* used to ask her
                                                                                     There’s Something for Everyone                       time to cool down first. Actually, everyone         course helped me do that,” said Maggie. “It’s
                   son Davis (7) how his day was and receive                                                                              needs that when they’re emotional or angry—         definitely good information and helpful, and a
                                                                                     at Tuning in to Kids
                   the one-word answer “fine”. Then one day                                                                               even I do—we all just need time.”                   great thing to carry on with,” said Maggie.
                                                                                     “The parents on the course were mixed,” said
                   she discovered he was being bullied.                              Maggie. “Some were similar to me, while              Setting boundaries while
                                                                                                                                                                                              The effects of emotion coaching on Maggie
                                                                                     others had very different things going on.”                                                              and Davis’ relationship were clearly visible
                   At school Davis was working with Family Works social worker                                                            supporting emotions                                 to Kate. “When I first met Maggie and Davis
                                                                                     But Maggie appreciated being able to share
                   Kate Jones to help him manage difficult emotions around worry                                                          Another key learning for Maggie was how             together, I could see they were close and
                                                                                     experiences with the other parents and find
                   and anxiety. In his mum’s words “he was very sensitive, getting                                                        to set boundaries around behaviour while            shared a pretty strong connection,” says Kate.
                                                                                     they understood how she felt. “The course
                                                                                                                                          still supporting Davis’ emotions. “Even when        “However, by our last session, Maggie had
                   upset over the slightest thing” and pulling out his eyebrows      seemed to have something for everyone,” she
                                                                                                                                          you’re using techniques from the course, there      shared that they were spending more time
                   and eye lashes. When Maggie talked to Kate about not knowing      said. “Even if a particular topic didn’t feel a
                                                                                                                                          is still a behavioural line the child shouldn’t     together and I could observe that Maggie’s
                   Davis was being bullied, Kate suggested Maggie try emotion        hundred percent relevant to me, I would see it
                                                                                                                                          cross,” she says. “Recognising that boundary is     approach to Davis had really strengthened
                   coaching to help support their connection and communication,      resonating with others in the group.”
                                                                                                                                          important because then I can sit Davis down         their relationship.”
                   and she referred Maggie to the Tuning in to Kids parenting        Maggie’s own learning highlight was finding          and ask him to take responsibility for himself.”
                                                                                     out how to ask Davis about sensitive topics                                                              Kate’s work with Davis at his school has also
                   programme offered by Family Works. “Kate thought emotion                                                               Maggie also feels confident identifying when
                                                                                     indirectly. “I get more information by easing                                                            had an effect on his wellbeing. “Davis is more
                   coaching might encourage Davis to open up more about things                                                            a boundary is required and when it’s not. For       chipper at school and has fewer issues in
                                                                                     him into a topic instead of asking directly,”
                   that were bothering him,” said Maggie.                                                                                 example, she can usually tell when Davis is         class.” said Maggie. “I think it’s a mixture of his
                                                                                     said Maggie. “Tuning in to Kids taught me
                                                                                                                                          being defiant versus just hungry, sick, or tired.   getting the help he needs and my taking the
                   Maggie was intrigued about Tuning in to Kids and about going      how to approach a subject using the right
                                                                                     words. I learnt to think about how to approach                                                           Tuning in to Kids course.”
                   to a parenting course in general.                                                                                      An Ongoing Shift
                                                                                     a situation before speaking.”
                   “I’d always been told ‘there’s no book on                         Maggie learnt this was especially true when
                                                                                                                                          Thanks to Maggie’s new emotion coaching
                                                                                                                                          skills, Davis opens up to his mum more now.
                   parenting’,” said Maggie. “And I believed it,                     children don’t want to talk or are emotional.        And sometimes even volunteers information
                   because everyone is different so I figured                        “When Davis is angry, instead of immediately                                                             *Real names have been changed.
                                                                                                                                          without her asking. “I had to find the right
                   there’s no right answer”.                                         telling him to explain himself, I now give him       approach for Davis, and the Tuning in to Kids

Winter 2018   4                                                                                                                                                                                                   5   People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Q4. What prevents parents from                           a child to feel safer, and offers a connection       Q9. Is TIK only for families
                                                                                                                                                                                                         that helps them manage feelings better. At the
                                                                                                                                                effectively emotion coaching their                                                                            experiencing problems?
                                                                                                                                                                                                         same time, you might say things like, “it can be
                                                                                                                                                children?                                                really scary can’t it?” or “you sound like you’re    No. TIK is designed for everyone. That’s
                                                                                                                                                Sometimes it’s just the circumstances—they               really worried about what might happen”. Avoid       because the skills taught at TIK are not
                                                                                                                                                might be in a hurry or overwhelmed themselves.           moving quickly to “buts” and “howevers”.             just parenting skills, they’re relationship
                                                                                                                                                And that’s OK; you can’t always respond the                                                                   skills. People often say it improves their
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Often in those times the child’s emotion will
                                                                                                                                                right way. However, often parents don’t have                                                                  relationship with their partner, their adult
                                                                                                                                                                                                         actually shift. Only once they have started to
                                                                                                                                                the skills to know how to respond, or they fear                                                               siblings, and even their work colleagues.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         calm down should parents start exploring
                                                                                                                                                what will happen—they don’t trust that going                                                                  Really, it’s about tuning into others, not
                                                                                                                                                                                                         things like, “I wonder what would help you
                                                                                                                                                toward emotion, instead of shutting it down, will                                                             just kids.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         go to school today?” or “I wonder if we can do
                                                                                                                                                actually lead to a better outcome for their child.       some really big slow breaths and make our
                                                                                                                                                Also, some people’s beliefs about emotion get in         bodies go all soft and floppy”. Help them to
                                                                                                                                                the way, for example, “anger is bad” or “boys don’t      relax and breathe while they’re close with you.
                                                                                                                                                cry”. There can be lots of reasons.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Q7. South Island children’s lives
                                                                                                                                                Q5. It’s pretty tough for parents to learn               are still disrupted with home
                                                                                                                                                new skills and discover they might not                   repairs; school and education
                                                                                                                                                be doing things quite right. What do
                                                                                                                                                you say to parents with this concern?                    changes; and family difficulties.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         How can emotion coaching
Emotion coaching for                                                                                                                            Knowledge about the importance of emotion
                                                                                                                                                coaching is new information. While it’s natural
                                                                                                                                                                                                         support our children experiencing
                                                                                                                                                                                                         ongoing anxiety?
the earthquake generation                                                                                                                       for parents to feel guilty about what they haven’t
                                                                                                                                                done in the past, no one can apply skills they
                                                                                                                                                don’t know about. We’re increasing our
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Anxiety is the sort of feeling that can stay for a
                                                                                                                                                                                                         long time even when a child feels heard and
                                                                                                                                                knowledge about children’s development all the           supported. So as well as responding with
                                                                                                                                                time—for example, most mothers now know                  empathy, parents need to teach children skills
                                                                                                                                                not to drink heavily through pregnancy—and as            to manage their anxious feelings. We can teach
                                                                                                                                                we learn new ways of doing things, we can just           children ways to breathe slowly and relax, to
                                                                                                                                                adopt them as they come to light.                        tense and release when they’re stressed, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                         to use props like a necklace or pounamu that
                                          Q1. Why do children need to                     Q3. What happens for a child when                                                                              they can touch when feeling worried or doing
                                          learn emotional competence?                     his or her emotions are supported?                    Q6. You grew up in Christchurch                          hard things.
                                                                                                                                                and enjoyed a typical idyllic kiwi
                                          When children can understand and regulate       Several things happen. Firstly, the child                                                                      Parents also need to tune in to children’s
                                                                                                                                                childhood. In recent years, our                          different fears and worries, so they can
                                          their emotional world, they experience          feels heard, understood, connected, and
                                                                                                                                                children in the South Island have                        recognise when a child’s big feelings around
                                          increased self-confidence, greater physical     not alone with his or her big, overwhelming
                                          health, better performance in school,           feelings. This helps the child to calm down.
                                                                                                                                                experienced a far less idyllic start:                    a small issue, such as the frustration of their
    SOPHIE HAVIGHUR                       and healthier social relationships.                                                                   10,000 plus earthquakes have shaken                      toast being buttered the wrong way are
                               ST                                                         Secondly, an emotion-coaching parent often            them in their formative years.
    is a child clinical psyc                                                                                                                                                                             actually caused by the small issue triggering
                             hologist                                                     helps put words to what the child is feeling and
   and an Associate Pr                                                                                                                          How can emotion coaching help                            underlying anxious feelings.
                           ofessor at     Q2. I’m a warm and loving parent.               experiencing. For example, the parent might
   the University of Os
                           lo in Norway
                                                                                                                                                our children and their families?
                                          Isn’t that enough?                              say, while hugging the child close, “it sounds like
   and the University of
                             Melbourne,                                                   you don’t want to go to school today” or “you’re      As loving parents, it can be difficult to see our        Q8. Traditionally, NZ men
   Australia. Along wi                    Warm and loving parenting is fantastic for
                          th co-author                                                    worried Suzie won’t play with you again”. This        children in pain, and so we try to protect them          haven’t been encouraged to
  Ann Harley, she deve                    kids. One of the main predictors of good                                                              from it—we try to distract them or give them
                            loped                                                         process helps shift the child’s experience from                                                                show their feelings. How do
  the Tuning in to Kids                   outcomes for kids is the level of warmth in a                                                         rational thinking strategies. These can be
                            (TIK)                                                         the feeling part of the brain to the thinking part,                                                            dads typically respond to TIK?
  parenting program                       family and in the parent-child relationship.                                                          helpful, but we miss the emotion involved.
                         me, which is                                                     so the child achieves greater self awareness.
  now in use around th                                                                                                                          Sometimes parents need to do the opposite—               The response from dads is usually very
                           e world.       However, love and warmth don’t necessarily
                                                                                                                                                they need to allow their child to express his            positive. They like having an opportunity to
 Sophie grew up in Ch                     lead to emotional competence. A child may
                           ristchurch,                                                                                                          or her strong feelings of, for example, fear             learn skills around emotion that they were
 and on a recent visit                    feel good about themselves and have good self
                         back to NZ                                                                                                             and worry about earthquakes.                             never taught growing up, and they typically
 was happy to catch                       esteem, but they may not learn about emotions
                        up with us. In                                                                                                          At Tuning in to Kids (TIK) we encourage parents          adopt and engage with the skills very, very
particular, she had so                    unless you explore and talk with them about
                          me helpful                                                                                                            to slow down and hear their child’s pain before          well. In fact, in the trials for our “Dads
tips for South Island                     emotions. That will take your child further.
                         parents.                                                                                                               rushing in with a solution such as, “it’s OK, we’ll do   Tuning in to Kids” programme, we got
                                                                                                                                                this, this, and this”.                                   some of the biggest changes from fathers.

                                                                                                                                                For example, first be connected physically
                                                                                                                                                to your child; hold him or her close, rocking
                                                                                                                                                or stroking as well if necessary. This helps

    Winter 2018      6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7   People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
THREE VOLUNTEERS, THREE JOURNEYS,                                                                                                                                                                                                 MARILYN
                                                                                                                                                     ALASDAIR
THREE WORDS OF ADVICE:

JUST DO IT!
                                                                                                                                                    Alasdair Freeborn’s experience is similar to Shane’s in that he started to   Marilyn McLellan is no stranger to
                                                                                                                                                    volunteer with Enliven after health issues ended his dairy farming career.   volunteering—she’s spent years donating time and energy
                                                                                                                                                    Ongoing autoimmune disease now makes paid work impossible.                   to children, young people, and now older people. These days she hosts an
                                                                                                                                                    Fortunately for Alasdair, he lives in Ashburton, where both he and           Enliven HomeShare group in north Christchurch.
                                                                                                                                                    Presbyterian Support are members of Mid Canterbury TimeBank. TimeBank        When asked what she gets out of volunteering, Marilyn’s voice gets
                                                                                                                                                    is a community circle of giving in which members—local organisations         dreamy and thoughtful. “There’s just something that you can’t put a
                                                                                                                                                    and individuals—share skills with each other. Members earn time credits      name to,” she says. “You hear the joy and laughter of people who might
                                                                                                                                                    for the work they do, and then use those credits to “buy” another member's   be living on their own and wouldn’t experience that joy if it weren’t for
                                                                                                                                                    time to get the services they need. Everyone's time is equal, regardless     your help. There’s this immense satisfaction from knowing you’ve made
                                                                                                                                                    of the type of work, so one hour always equals one time credit. Alasdair     somebody’s day better.”
                                                                                                                                                    volunteers for Presbyterian Support (Enliven) as a van driver, earning       Marilyn has learnt important life lessons through her years as a
 Enliven and Family Works volunteers are vital to the work we do at Presbyterian                                                                    time credits whenever he does so. He then redeems his credits for weekly     volunteer. “Patience is a big one,” she says. “I’ll teach one of our members
 Support—last year 297 volunteers donated 32,409 hours! When surveyed,                                                                              housecleaning, plus gardening tasks, meals, and baking.                      with Alzheimer’s the same board game week after week, and each time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 he says ‘I’ve never played this before’. You do that for six weeks and you
 85% of these volunteers believed they make a positive difference in their                                                                          It took Alasdair a long time to adjust to not working anymore. Initially
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 just get over yourself.”
                                                                                                                                                    he was devastated. However, volunteering gave him a new purpose.
 community, and that volunteering improves their own lives too.                                                                                     Alasdair now makes deposits in TimeBank as often as he can, so that          She’s also learnt to “serve others in the way they need to be served, not in
                                                                                                                                                    if his health issues worsen he can access more support in the future.        the way I want to serve them”. Marilyn ensures she works with members’
                                                                                                                ing for
                                                                                        We are always look our Enliven                              Through volunteering, Alasdair says he’s “met the most fantastic people”.    wants, needs, and idiosyncrasies; whether that’s not eating vegetables
                                                                                                               at
                                                                                        volunteers to help older people.                            And funnily enough, his advice is the same as Shane’s:                       at the meal, only using a particular bathroom, or listening to the same
                                                                                                    m  m  es  fo  r                                                                                                              stories over and over again because it’s important to them.
                                                                                        day progra
                                                                                                         ly , su  pported                           “Just do it. You’ve got nothing to lose and                                  “Volunteering has made me more aware of people in situations I hadn’t
Shane Torrance was
                                                                                        Join our frie nd
                                                                                                               make a                               everything to gain.”                                                         thought of before, particularly the elderly. It’s easy to think that because
                                                                                        volunteer team to
recognised recently
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 an older person has their own home and their own family that they’re
by Volunteer Nelson
                                                                                                         en  ce .
with their Nominated                                                                     positive differ                                            Note: Presbyterian Support Mid Canterbury earns TimeBank credits via         OK. But they may not be.” Marilyn says she’s more likely to say hello to
                                                                                                                   apply, visit                     office space at the Trevor Wilson Centre...by the hour, of course!           elderly people in the supermarket, or offer to help them now than she
                                                                                         To learn more or to
Volunteer Award.

                                                                                                          ersouth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 was before.
                                                                                          www.enlivenupp                                            TimeBank circles are located all around the upper South Island—
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Marilyn’s advice for others considering volunteering is in the same vein

                                                                                          org.nz/volunteer. i
                                                                                                                                                    Addington, Lyttelton, Motueka, Hurunui, Ashburton, New Brighton,
                                                                                                                                                    Selwyn, Sumner, Waimakariri, and Ōtākaro. Learn more at                      as Shane’s and Alasdair’s:

                                                                                           He aroha whakatō,
                                                                                                               he aroha puta ma
                                                                                                                                     all receive.
                                                                                                                                                    www.timebank.org.nz.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Go for it,” she says. “Give it a go. What you
                                                                                                                then kindness you sh
                                                                                           If kindness is sown,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 get out of it is much more than you expect.”

   SHANE                                                                                                                                            A Crossword for the Season
 Shane Torrance doesn’t fit the stereotype of a volunteer at an          Because Shane knows what it feels like to almost lose his                  ACROSS
 older person’s day programme. And with his shaved head, tattoos,        independence, he enjoys helping others who may be struggling               4. Oral traditions.
                                                                                                                                                    6. A fine NZ wool used for warm clothing.
 and heavy-metal t-shirts, for a while he struggled to break into        with theirs. “Shane is a great example to our Totara members               8. Handy footwear for rainy days.
 volunteering at all. But Shane’s appearance belies a big soft           dealing with memory or physical challenges of their own,” said Trish       12. Your genealogy. (Māori)
 heart,and now the older ladies who once wouldn’t let him                Armstrong, Day Programme Coordinator. “Shane still lives alone             14. What sound do autumn leaves make?
 hold their handbags while they climbed into the Enliven van,            independently, and he doesn’t let his disabilities slow him down.”         16. At Matariki families gather to share yummy what? (Māori)
 call him their friend.                                                                                                                             17. A popular jacket made of down.
                                                                         Through volunteering Shane has developed an extensive network              18. A cream-coloured root vegetable.
 About four years ago Shane started volunteering one day a week          and made many, many friends. And for anyone considering
                                                                                                                                                    DOWN
 at Nelson’s Totara club. “I was just looking for something to do,” he   volunteering, he has this advice:
                                                                                                                                                    1. "Look out, look out! Jack who is about?"
 said. A painter and decorator by trade, Shane had lost his legs and
 some eyesight as a result of Type 1 Diabetes. He could no longer        "Just do it. You’ll get far more out                                       2. Living ancestors. In Māori, tipuna.
                                                                                                                                                    3. A popular winter sport in NZ.
 work,and was “going crazy” at home.
                                                                         of it than you put in – even if the                                        5.Matariki will officially
                                                                                                                                                       be celebrated on the 15th day of what month in 2018?
 Now Shane volunteers on four van runs and two Totara
 programmes per week, and is paid to work in the kitchen three           people you’re helping need it more                                         7. Matariki is a good time to renew your new year's what?
                                                                                                                                                    9. The Matariki cluster contains seven of these.
 times per week. At Totara Club he helps with morning tea, chats         than you.”                                                                 10. Our unique Aotearoa new year celebration.
 with members, and helps with activities, such as calling for Housie.                                                                               11. Another word for autumn.
                                                                                                                                                    12. The coldest season.
                                                                                                                                                    13. Long and knitted, an essential garment in winter.
                                                                                                                                                    15. A gourd that makes a tasty soup.

Winter 2018    8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             9 People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
I'll meet you at the Trash Lab!
Kids find social connection through
the ordinary magic of play
Haere rā and goodbye to lonely
lunchtimes, boredom, and bullying—
                                                       Creativity and
there’s a homegrown play project
spreading through kiwi schools right now.
                                                       social connection                                          The Trash Lab team. From left, Vivienne Wallace,
                                                                                                                  Dr Sarah Suckling, Keryn Davis, and Sharon Manson.
It’s called the Trash Lab, and it’s giving NZ          Mā te tuakana te teina e tōtika,
children a space at school to connect with             Mā te teina te tuakana e tōtika
one another through free creative play.                The older will lead the younger and the
                                                       younger will lead the older
For many children, lunchtime is the best part of the
school day. The sports field, adventure playground,    “We knew the Trash Lab would really
and library can be favourite spaces to play soccer     work for certain kids,” says Sarah.
or tag, hang out with friends, or retreat with a
good book. But for others lunchtime can be lonely
                                                       “But we didn’t expect a quarter of the                     A happier place to be
                                                       school to turn up some days.”                              Carl Scurr, also a teacher at Thorrington, is a
or socially fraught, and altogether too long.
                                                       When the bell goes, children rush to the Trash             frequent visitor to the Trash Lab when he’s
In mid-2016, some parents at Thorrington Primary       Lab to nab their desired materials, then the race          on duty. “When the Trash Lab’s open there’s
in Christchurch partnered with the school to           is on to maximise the 45 minutes of play before            really not that much for me to do," he says.
address the needs of their own children who were       lunchtime is over. Forts are a popular build, followed     “It makes the whole school playground a
struggling with lunchtimes. “Thorrington is a          by vehicles of every type; swings are built out of old     happier place to be.”
fantastic school,” says Vivienne Wallace, a parent     bicycle inner tubes and fabric. A visitor to the Trash     But the benefits of the Trash Lab extend
and co-creator of the Trash Lab. “But kids will        Lab might see a movie theatre, a funeral procession,       beyond lunchtimes to children’s homes and
be kids. And some of our boys in particular, who       a fashion show, a space ship, even a massage table.        families. It’s turned some children’s experience
were all great kids--smart, lively, imaginative, and   And the play is active--children will chase, drag,         of school right around—from not wanting to
kind--were experiencing conflict of some sort every    or pull resources around the entire space.                 go to school, to being happy to do so.
lunchtime. Even within their own friendship group.”
                                                       Throughout the session older children play with            “After the Trash Lab opened, we didn’t hear
Sarah Suckling, another co-creator and parent          younger ones, children find playmates outside their        any stories of lunchtime conflict at home
said, “The devil finds work for idle hands.            own social group, siblings play together, and children     again for a long, long time,” says Vivienne.
We knew our boys just needed something                 alone find a playmate (or they can happily play            “And many parents have told us the same.”
to do, but they weren’t interested in kicking          by themselves). And as they work on their shared
balls through goals. Not every child is.”              projects, children collaborate and problem solve,          The Trash Lab team are now on a mission to
                                                       learning social skills along the way. As Brigette Bilbe,   spread the happiness to schools all around
So the parents embarked on an initiative to
                                                       a teacher and parent at Thorrington describes it,          NZ. Several other Christchurch schools have
introduce “loose parts” play to lunchtimes,
                                                       “They work together, share resources and ideas, look       introduced Trash Labs, and there’s even one
and so the Trash Lab was born. Loose parts are
                                                       after each other, compromise, compliment each              at Mt Cook school in Wellington.
“materials that can be moved, carried, combined,
                                                       other, and even argue a bit, which is good too!”           To learn more, e-mail Vivienne at
taken apart and put back together in multiple
                                                                                                                  trashlab.play@gmail.com.
ways”, and they give children unlimited options
for using them imaginatively. At the Trash Lab,
                                                       Brigette often takes time after lunch to debrief with                                                           “When children play, they don’t just
                                                       children about their Trash Lab experiences. “They
these materials include old tyres, tent material,      talk about their creations a lot,” she says. “There are                                                         have fun and learn social skills; they also
road cones, carpet squares, bicycle inner tubes,
computer keyboards, and other large-scale junk.
                                                       often reports of squabbles, usually over sharing, but
                                                       we talk about the problem and then model what
                                                                                                                                                                       express their experiences and feelings. When children are
All the materials are stored in a shed designated
to a play-friendly space on the school grounds.
                                                       could have been said to help the situation.”                                                                    given space and time to simply play (without technology!) they
Each lunchtime, two parent volunteers open the         Victoria Newcombe, a parent at Thorrington, is
shed to oversee the parts’ removal and return.         also Family Works service manager and a Child /                                                                 process worries and concerns through role play and narrative. Basically,
                                                       Family Psychologist . She says, "Not only does                                                                  they use play to put their life into order. Giving South Island children space
                                                       the Trash Lab allow children to be
                                                       creative, use social skills, and mix                                                                            to play at school, in particular, supports them to process some of the major
                                                       with peers outside their own classes;                                                                           events and upheavals they’ve experienced in their early years.”
                                                       it also involves parents and teachers,
                                                       and it builds and models a sense of                                                                             Merle Brown, FamilyWorks play therapist in Ashburton.
                                                       community within the school."

      Winter 2018     2
                      10                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11 People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Youth Service is a Work and Income
                                                                                                                            The Youth Service provides                initiative with eligibility criteria, so the
                                                                                                                            young people 16-19 years                  Family Works team also helps with the
                                                                                                                            old with coaching and                     application process if necessary.
                                                                                                                            mentoring to help them                    Youth Coaches support youth to:
                                                                                                                            into education, training                  ✔ Complete their Youth Payment or
                                                                                                                            or work-based learning.                      Young Parent Payment applications
                                                                                                                            Our youth coaches also                    ✔ Better manage their money
                                                                                                                            support the teens with                    ✔ Assess and access education options
                                                                                                                                                                      ✔ Stay healthy and well
                                                                                                                            day-to-day issues while
                                                                                                                            they’re getting sorted.
                                                                                                                                                                      ✔ Be a good parent (if they have children)
                                                                                                                                                                      Coaches also serve as advocates, making
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Pumpkin
                                                                                                                                                                      sure youth receive the assistance they’re
                                                                                                                                                                      entitled to.                                   (or Kumara!) Pie
 YOUNG PEOPLE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Pumpkin pie is a traditional dish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     in the USA for Thanksgiving Day.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     How about using our own seasonal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     pumpkins or kumara in this dessert

 ACHIEVE SUCCESS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     to recognise the thanks we give at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Matariki?!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Pie Filling:

 IN THE YOUTH SERVICE                                                                                                                                                                                                3 x eggs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ¾ C sugar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ½ t cinnamon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1/8 t nutmeg
2017 was a standout year for young people in the         These positive results are significant because the Youth Service                                                                                            ½ t ginger
Youth Service achieving NCEA results and "aging out"     works with some of the most vulnerable young people in                                                                                                      Pinch cloves
                                                                                                                                                                      Sarah has worked hard to                       Pinch salt
                                                         society. Many have grown up in complex family situations
of the Youth Service with the skills and confidence to                                                                                                                become independent and learn                   2 C pureed pumpkin (or kumara)
                                                         experiencing high levels of risk and adversity, have had limited
live independently. They are either finding employment   support from family and whanau, and have needed financial                                                    to live with very little money. She            2 C light cream or whole milk

                                                                                                                                  ,
or moving on to further studies/training without         assistance from the government from an early age to survive.                                                 attributes her positive attitude               1 purchased Flaky Pie Crust
needing to go on a benefit of any kind.                                                                                                                               about the Youth Service to the                 (or make your own)

                                                                                                                            Sarah s
                                                         Substantial long-term research from NZ and overseas
                                                                                                                                                                      relationship she has with her                  Preheat the oven to 180°C.
                                                         indicates that the kind of disadvantaged start these young
                                                         people experience often leads to poor long-term life
                                                                                                                                                                      Youth Coach.
           In total,                                                                                                                                                                                                 Beat the eggs with the sugar, then

          107
                                                         outcomes, including the risk that they will remain dependent                                                 “She’s amazing, like wow—she’s like a

                                                                                                                            Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     add the spices and salt. Stir in the
                                                         on government financial assistance for most of their lives.                                                  good friend—she’s very easy to talk to,        pumpkin puree and then the light
                                                                                                                                                                      very supportive, a real confidence builder;    cream/whole milk. Warm this
                                                         The success our young people in                                                                              she just makes everything so easy to work      mixture in a medium saucepan
                                                                                                                                                                      with. She was totally on my side with my       over medium-low heat, stirring
  young people working                                   Christchurch, Ashburton, Greymouth,                                                                          goals to get me where I can be and to be       occasionally, until it is hot to the
    with Youth Service                                   Blenheim and Nelson have achieved                                                                            the best person I can be. She always made      touch; do not boil.
     achieved NCEA                Meanwhile,             is a credit to their own hard work and                             Sarah (not her real name) was involved    sure I was in a very safe house when I was

                                  178
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Warm the pie crust in the oven for a
                                                                                                                            with the Youth Service for over two       boarding, and really looked out for me.”
         success.                                        dedication, and to their youth coaches.                            years. “The Youth Payment made school     Sarah passed year 13 at school “and I did it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     few minutes then remove and place
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the pie plate on a baking sheet.
                                                                                                                            accessible for me” she says. “Before, I   purely because my Youth Coach pushed me”.
                                                                                                                            was trying to work and go to school                                                      Pour the filling mixture into the hot
                          young people exited the        THEY NOW HAVE                                                      as well. It just wasn’t working though.
                                                                                                                            Every single day I was on the go, and
                                                                                                                                                                      Sarah is confident about moving on to
                                                                                                                                                                      tertiary study. When asked what she is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     crust and bake 30-40 minutes until
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the mixture shakes like jelly but is
                           Youth Service without
                            going onto another           HOPE FOR A                                                         it was very stressful. I’m able to go
                                                                                                                            to school now and not stress about
                                                                                                                                                                      most proud of achieving during her time
                                                                                                                                                                      with the Youth Service, Sarah replied
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     still quite moist. Cool on a rack and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     serve warm or at room temperature.
                                  benefit.               BRIGHTER FUTURE.                                                   finance and stuff.”                       “knowing I have a bright future”.              Based on a recipe by Mark Bittman

    Winter 2018   12                                                                                                                                                                                                               13 People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
NELSON

        he Region                                                                                                              Volunteers from Afar……

Around t
                                                                                                                               Nelson Day Programmes have
                                                                                                                               had volunteers all the way from                                                                   Nelson
                                                                                                                               Germany! Barbora and Wiebke are                                                                            Marlboro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ugh
                                                                                                                               studying Art Therapy in Germany.
                                                                                                                               In order to complete the practical
                                                                                                                               component of their degree, they                                             West Coa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    st
                                                                                                                               are spending three months with       MARLBOROUGH
                                                                                                                               the Enliven day programmes in
                                                                                                                               Nelson. Of course, the women have    Friday Night Sports                                  North Ca
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  nterb   ury
                                                                                                                               combined their studies with plenty   Programme for Teens                       Mid Can
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      terb             Christchu
                                                                                                                               of touring around the country.                                                                ury                  rch
                                                                                                                                                                    For four weeks in March, Blenheim
                                                                                                                               The students have facilitated many   youth got to hang out at the
                                                                                                                               group activities. A couple of the    Sundown Sports Series, trying
                                                                                                                               topics were ‘symbols’ and ‘body      new sports, learning about a
                                                                                                                               image’ which brought about great     healthy lifestyle, and making          MID CANTERBURY
                                                                                       WEST COAST                              discussions on Māori culture and     new social connections. The            Parenting Week
                                                                                                                               tattooing. The girls were very       Series was so popular that
 CHRISTCHURCH                                                                          A Very HomeShare                        interested to learn about New        another is planned for 2019.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           in Ashburton
 Children’s Day, March 4th                                                             Christmas on the                        Zealand culture and our Totara                                              For the first time ever, Ashburton
                                                                                                                                                                    After burgers, wraps, or Subway and
                                                                                       West Coast                              members appointed themselves
                                                                                                                                                                    sugar free beverages, teens aged
                                                                                                                                                                                                           hosted its own Parenting Week.Parents
 Face painting, Anyone? Or beading? Or stone painting? Or...                                                                   as unofficial tour guides on the                                            around the district were encouraged
 The Christchurch Family Works team again made for a lively presence at the            They threatened to return in                                                 12–18 learnt about healthy eating,
                                                                                                                               “must see and do” of our country.                                           to register for a free week of activities
 city’s 2018 Children’s Day event by offering all of the above. Led by Julie Forman,   December and they did!                                                       managing anxiety, and community
                                                                                                                                                                                                           and seminars with an aim to provide
 volunteers laboured away in the hot sun, painting earnest upturned faces and                                                                                       law; and received drug and alcohol
                                                                                       Following an “amazing” mid-winter                                                                                   support and education to all.
 tying beaded bracelets onto tiny wrists. They were just a small subset of the over                                                                                 advice. Attendees then tried hockey,
                                                                                       party, 54 HomeShare clients and staff
 200 volunteers taking part in Children’s Day to make it a fantastic community                                                                                      badminton, futsal, and basketball.     The week kicked off with a
                                                                                       on the West Coast returned to
 event for everyone.                                                                                                                                                “Even hip hop and Scottish longball    parenting expo. “I fully support this
                                                                                       Reefton for a Christmas party at
                                                                                                                                                                    were thrown in,” said Darlene          opportunity for parents to learn
                                                                                       Dawson’s Hotel.
                                                                                                                                                                    Purdie, Family Works mentoring         more about services available
                                                                                       Special guest Vaughan Milner, PSUSI                                          coordinator in Marlborough.            in Ashburton, as we all know
                                                                                       CEO, travelled over to join them, and                                                                               parenting is about the hardest job
                                                                                                                                                                    The sports were
                                                                                       was treated to a Christmas-themed                                                                                   you can do,” said Jackie Girvan, PS
                                                                                                                                                                    delivered by local clubs
                                                                                       game of pass the parcel, a yummy                                                                                             Mid Canterbury Regional
                                                                                                                                                                    and any skill level
                                                                                       lunch, and live piano and guitar                                                                                               Manager. “At the expo
                                                                                                                                                                    could try. If teens
                                                                                       entertainment. Again, children from                                                                                            Presbyterian Support
                                                                                                                                                                    tried a sport and
                                                                                       Sacred Heart School came to sing.                                                                                             showcased the wealth of
                                                                                                                                                                    liked it, they could
  NORTH CANTERBURY                                                                     It was another fabulous outing for                                                                                           parenting resources we
                                                                                                                                                                    connect with the
                                                                                       West Coast HomeShare.                                                                                                       offer through Family Works,
  “Live and Give” Seniors                                                                                                                                           club to learn how
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  including play therapy,
                                                                                                                                                                    to join. “About
  Expo in Rangiora                                                                                                                                                  ten Family Works
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Incredible Years parenting, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                social and counselling support .”
  Recently several community groups, including PSUSI, organised an event                                                                                            families came
  to support the wellbeing of older people in the Waimakariri and Hurunui                                                                                           along,” said                               Speakers and experts provided
  Districts. The title of the event, “Live and Give” reflects the importance                                                                                        Darlene. “It was                          tips and tools for building
  of learning from each other’s culture and celebrating movinginto                                                                                                  a great way to                           stronger families. Catherine
  the older years, rather than seeing it as a time of loss.                                                                                                         spend a Friday night.”                  Gallagher, a Christchurch
                                                                                                                                                                                                            psychologist and recent contributor
  Approximately 270 people attended the expo, which was held at the                                                                                                 Sundown Sports Series was hosted
                                                                                                                                                                                                           to People Helping People magazine,
  Rangiora Baptist Church hall on Wednesday, February 28th. At least                                                                                                by Marlborough Youth Trust with
                                                                                                                                                                                                           began the week of evening seminars
  50 stall holders highlighted the range of services and opportunities                                                                                              support from the Marlborough
                                                                                                                                                                                                           with a booked-out session on
  in the region that are relevant to older people. Older people from the                                                                                            District Council, Red Cross, Cancer
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Understanding & Managing
  community spoke about what makes them feel connected, and a                                                                                                       Society, and Family Works.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Children's Anxiety.
  specialist medical team spoke about healthy aging.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           It is hoped that Parenting Week will be
  The event was funded by the CDHB, Rangiora-Ashley Community
                                                                                                                                                                                                           offered every other year.
  Board, and Riccarton Rotary.

Winter 2018   14                                                                                                                                                                                                          15 People Helping People
PEOPLE Helping People - Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Crossword Answers from p9.
                                                                                                                            "The true measure
                                                                                                                            of any society                    Yes! I want to help.
                                                                                                                            can be found in
                                                                                                                            how it treats its                Please help us to support our community. Complete and return this form,
                                                                                                                                                             or visit www.psuppersouth.org.nz/get-involved.
                                                                                                                            most vulnerable
                                                                                                                            members."                    1 Please tick how you would like to show your support:
                                                                                                                            Mahatma Ghandi                            By becoming a Guardian Angel at $30 a month
                                                                                                                                                                      By becoming a volunteer (go to Question 4)
                                                                                                                                                                      By making a gift
                                                                                                                                                                      I have left a gift to Presbyterian Support USI in my will
                                                                                                                                                                      I would like information about leaving a gift in my will
                                                                                                                                                                      I would like information about giving by automatic payment

                                                                                                                                                         2 My gift is (please circle):                      $250        $100     $50     $25        $10
Jackie Girvan: Retiring from PS Mid                                                                    OUR MAJOR            At Presbyterian Support          Other $
                                                                                                      SUPPORTERS            we are on a mission to
Canterbury, but Not from Her Community                                                                   PS IS FUNDED BY    end social poverty in        3 Please tick your preferred payment method:
                                                                                                                            New Zealand. We are                       Internet banking 06-0801-0678233-01 (Ref. donor # if you have one.)
Back in 2003, when Jackie Girvan first took     However, there’s no doubt that Jackie’s
up her post as Regional Manager in Mid          leadership, ability to make things happen,                                  working towards our goal                  Cheque (Payable to Presbyterian Support Upper South Island)
Canterbury, Presbyterian Support in             and attention to staff and community                                        by supporting vulnerable                  Visa 		          Mastercard
Mid Canterbury employed six staff and           needs have contributed enormously to
offered just two support programmes.            growing Presbyterian Support’s impact in
                                                                                                                            children, young people,          Card number
As she prepares to retire this year, Jackie     Ashburton. Notably, Jackie has focused on                                   families, and older people
                                                                                                                                                             Name on card
leaves a robust organisation in her wake;
one that she has grown to 20+ staff
                                                the issue of social housing, and last year
                                                Presbyterian Support successfully partnered
                                                                                                                            to become safe, strong,
supporting 11 programmes—the centre             with a private investor to open some shared                                 and connected.                   Expiry date
helps approximately 1,000 local Mid             accommodation for older people. Following
Cantabrians every year. Jackie also managed     this initiative, the Ashburton Housing                                                                       Signature

                                                                                                                            10%
PS West Coast operations during 2011-2015.      and Support Trust has been established,
Jackie believes Presbyterian Support’s growth
                                                which aims to provide affordable rental                                                                  4 My contact details are:
                                                accommodation for older people.
in the Ashburton region wouldn’t have been                                                                                                                   Name
possible without the generosity and support      Initially, Jackie had no concrete plans                                    of Presbyterian Support
of the local community. Local groups such as    post-retirement apart from “sleeping in”                                    (USI) funding comes              Address
the Trevor Wilson Trust, Community Trust        and “sitting back for a while to see what
of Mid and South Canterbury, Ashburton          happens”. However, though she doesn’t
                                                                                                                            from donations, bequests
Trust, the Ashburton Benevolent Trust and       finish work till June, already Jackie is                                    and grants.                      Phone
the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation give        committed to chairing the new Ashburton
significant funding.                            Housing and Support Trust and contributing
                                                as a trustee to the Ashburton Benevolent
                                                                                                                            Will you help?                   E-mail
“Without them we wouldn’t have the              Trust. More community tinkering is sure to                                                                   Date of birth                      /       /
services we do. All the money that’s            come with mentoring roles and volunteering
given locally is spent locally, it can’t        also in the pipeline.                                                                                        From time to time we’d like to update you on what we are doing. If you would
go elsewhere,” she said.                                                                                                                                     prefer not to receive mail from us please tick this box.
                                                With her background in nursing and health,
“Also so many wonderful small                   and all the experience and skills she has to
things happen because of our                    offer, not to mention her commitment to the
                                                Ashburton community, Jackie’s departure
                                                                                                                                                         5 Please post to:
                                                                                                                                                                Presbyterian Support Upper South Island,
networks, the networks we have in                                                                                                                            		Freepost 60373,
                                                will be a great loss to Presbyterian Support
the community, with other agencies                                                                                                                           		 PO Box 13171, Christchurch 8141
                                                USI, but her valuable contributions to Mid
and with health agencies".                      Canterbury will carry on.
                                                                                                                                                             All donations are receipted. Gifts over $5.00 are tax deductible.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  y.
                                                                                                                                                             NZ Charities Register #CC21765                                      Thank you for your generosit

                                                                                                                                                         
 Winter 2018   16                                                                                                                                                                                                                         People Helping People
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