Cycles of Hope. Many people coming together is how communities are changed. Christmas 2018

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1 Cycles of Hope Christmas 2018 Many people coming together is how communities are changed Each one of us can make a difference Together we make change. The above quote is from Barbara Mikulski, the longest serving woman in the history of the United States Congress. She was a social worker and community organiser before being elected to office in Summarising her 40 years in office, she said I still think of myself as a social worker. I listen to the people and when there are problems, I try to find ways to help. Much like the Christchurch Methodist Mission, Senator Mikulski has a strong sense of social justice. She carried this within herself but ultimately worked with others to put it into action. Our vision is a socially just and inclusive society in which all people flourish. As an organisation we are under no illusions at how ambitious this vision is or how difficult it will be to make it a reality. We also know that working in partnership with others is the only way we will be able to achieve such a daunting but necessary goal. Many people coming together is how communities are changed. If I had to choose one word to describe 2018 it would be collaboration. Initiatives such as Housing First would not have been possible without many organisations working together. Although the Methodist Mission was at the forefront of implementing Housing First in Christchurch, 5 other local organisations are part of the management group. The Christchurch City Council, a range of Government agencies and Ngāi Tahu also help oversee the initiative. Each one of us can make a difference this Christmas. We can see a socially just and inclusive society play out by helping someone in need or making a donation to a local charity. There are too many people in our community struggling for us to do nothing. As great as one person can have an impact, it is together that we can truly make a change. This year has illustrated to me how much more we can achieve when working side by side. Together, we can impact the individuals and families that are struggling this Christmas as well as our communities. Please consider supporting our work this Christmas. The Christchurch Methodist Mission is able to make a difference through the generosity of people like you. Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou, Jill Hawkey Executive Director

2 A special place that makes you feel welcome Aratupu Preschool & Nursery provides wraparound support for whānau throughout the year. As Christmas draws near, knowing a hamper is coming and someone is there to talk to can make all the difference. Tasha Scott and her youngest children have been coming to Aratupu for over 5 years. It s got a great community feel, says Tasha. The teachers are great and really know the children and parents. They make everyone feel part of what they do. I love how Aratupu engages with the wider community and helps the children to discover and learn new things about the community surrounding them. During her time at Aratupu, Tasha has had some major breakthroughs and breakdowns. Annie Smith, Aratupu Whānau Support Worker, has helped her through the good and bad. You don t have a social worker at other preschools. Aratupu is really special in that regard. Annie has supported me when I have experienced relationship breakdowns, drug and alcohol struggles and financial stress. She sees something is wrong when I drop off the kids in the morning and makes the time to talk, says Tasha. The last couple of Christmases have seen Tasha and her whānau receive a Support a Family hamper which has really helped to take the pressure off. Annie has also supported her throughout the year with things such as food parcels, budgeting, parenting and help with study. I have recently graduated as a level 6 social worker and Annie has been incredible - bouncing things off her, giving me pointers with assignments and providing encouragement when I have had doubts, says Tasha. The wrap-around support that Annie provides is tailored to the unique needs of each parent. It can range from a 5 minute talk at drop-off/ pick-up time through to intensive support for a wide range of issues. Some of the support that she provides really goes above and beyond, says Tasha. A while ago she helped me contact the curtain bank and Community Energy Action (for insulation). She even came to my house and helped me install the curtains. Our sincere thanks to the Dublin Street Charitable Trust for their grant towards the Whānau Support Worker role and the Helping Parents Shape Futures project at Aratupu. A parent coffee group at Aratupu with Whānau Support Worker Annie Smith. The parent network is pretty tight, says Tasha.

3 Families under significant stress heading towards Christmas Throughout the year, CMM s Social Services team provides support to some of the most vulnerable families in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn. The stress on these families only increases at Christmas time. Severe and enduring poverty is having a big impact on families in our community. Sole parents and families affected by redundancy or income insufficiency are facing huge financial strain at Christmas. An inability to buy their children Christmas presents and limited food and holiday options leave parents with no option but to seek help from the Christchurch Methodist Mission and other organisations. We are seeing really significant poverty in the families we work with, says CMM Social Services Manager Eve Lafferty. Not only material hardship but also the poverty of experience. There are children in the seaside suburbs that have never been to the beach. The cumulative stress of poverty really grounds down parents to the extent that finding the energy to take their kids to local amenities is hard. Other options that require transport or cost money are out of the question with such restricted budgets. Eve and her team of social workers, child & family psychologists and budget advisors will be providing a range of support to families at Christmas. Some of the more practical assistance includes helping secure funding for holiday programmes and nominating clients to receive a Support a Family Hamper. Working individually with parents is the biggest aspect of the wrap-around support that Eve and her team provide. Parents are often struggling with children s behaviour especially when children have their own mental health issues. Many parents are not only impacted by the effects of poverty, but also have their own mental health needs, disabilities or issues with drugs or alcohol. Family violence remains a major problem in our community and over the summer months the team will support many families impacted by this. There is a significant increase in alcohol abuse and family violence over Christmas, says Eve. There are over 12,000 incidents of domestic violence reported to police in Christchurch every year. Many of these involve children. Only 20% of such incidents are reported to Police which is sobering to say the least. There is a huge demand for the support provided by CMM. The Christchurch Methodist Mission is one of the few organisations in the region that provide home-based support services for families. For families facing significant hardship it means transport is not a barrier to receiving the support that they need. I could employ another 10 social workers easily, says Eve. There is such a huge demand from parents in our community. Our waiting list is getting bigger and bigger. Being in poverty places significant pressure on families, particularly at Christmas time.

4 Housing First marks World Homeless Day with opening of new office With 30 people now housed and a new central city base, it has been a busy few months for Housing First Christchurch. 10th October marked World Homeless Day and also the opening of the Housing First Christchurch office in St Asaph Street. On a day that raises awareness of homelessness, it was apt that people from throughout the community came together to celebrate the new base for an initiative that is ambitiously aiming to end homelessness in Christchurch. CMM Executive Director Jill Hawkey spoke of this ambition by declaring in front of the guests our goal is to end homelessness in Christchurch by We believe that everybody has the right to a warm, affordable and secure home. After being based out of the CMM head office in Papanui since May, Housing First now has an office that is close to where the majority of homeless people are in Christchurch and is more accessible. Housing First Team Leader Help the Christchurch Methodist Mission help others My gift is $ Please tick payment method: Cheque Credit Card Internet Banking Card Number: Visa Mastercard Expiry Date: Name on Card: Signature: Account no. for internet banking is Please put DONATION in Reference Field. Name: Phone: Address: Please send me information about leaving a gift in my Will to the Christchurch Methodist Mission Please return this form to: CMM Fundraising, FREEPOST 2143, PO Box 5416, CHRISTCHURCH 8542 You can also donate online by visiting

5 Nicola Fleming says that being close to the City Mission Night Shelter, Te Whare Roimata and Stanmore Road (where many of the homeless are during the day) means they are a lot more visible to the homeless community. A lot of the people we have housed and support are in the east of the city so we are closer to them when they need help. A lot of services they use are near where the office is too, Nicola says. The 30 people that Housing First Christchurch has housed had been continuously homeless for at least a year or had experienced four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years. One person had been homeless off and on for over forty years before being housed by the team. From being homeless last Christmas to now living in their own home, this Christmas will be special for all of them. Gavin Uncle JB Tubbs Some of the people that have been housed by Housing First Christchurch so far

6 Supporting people on their last journey When someone finds out that they have a life-limiting condition and need to be in a more supported living environment, it can often be a daunting prospect for them and their loved ones. There are so many things to consider and often decisions need to be made quickly. WesleyCare has a great reputation for providing the very best in palliative care. It has dedicated Karaka studio units specifically for people needing end of life care and provides a unique and welcoming environment for the person and their family. Lisa Cochrane recently experienced this care through her journey with close friend Wendy. Wendy passed away in August after receiving palliative care at WesleyCare for 7 months. I can t fault the care that Wendy received during her time there, says Lisa. The staff were accessible whenever Wendy or we needed them. We could contact the registered nurses directly and their knowledge of medication management and caring for people that are dying is exceptional. The caregivers never presented as rushing and always had time for Wendy. She got to know the staff really well. WesleyCare Manager Fran Pucilowski says that a big point of difference for the Karaka wing is that it provides a unique environment for many of the people requiring end of life care. Our staff provide palliative care for a range of ages. This year we have had three people in their fifties with us, says Fran. Staff also have a good link with the Nurse Maude Hospice team. Lisa echoes this, saying that the ability to provide care to younger people in an environment that didn t feel like a residential facility sets WesleyCare apart. People can come and go without having to go through an aged care facility, she says. Wendy s studio unit enabled her to have privacy but was also big enough that we could stay with her. Some nights we had four of us there. Wendy was allowed to have her own dog which was really great for her. For more information about palliative and other care options at WesleyCare, please visit PO Box 5416 Christchurch 8542 (03) info@mmsi.org.nz