Upper South Island: Community Initiatives

• Holly House: A residential home in Christchurch for eight young mothers aged 15-25 years and their babies which offers a supportive and safe environment. The only service of its kind in the South Island, it has staff present 24 hours, and offers a comprehensive education programme, aimed at equipping the women with practical skills to help them look after themselves and their babies. The education programme is also available to non-residents.
  Contact: holly_house@psusi.org.nz.
  Click on the links below to view brochures on:
  Information for intending residents
  Information for referrers
  
  
  
• Grandparents as Parents: Grandparents raising their grandchildren are often in a difficult situation - financially, emotionally, socially and physically. Many are unaware what assistance they are entitled to and struggle to cope. Grandparents as Parents support groups for grandparents who have the care and responsibility for their grandchildren meet monthly in central Christchurch and several suburbs.
  Contact: Group Organiser phone: 363 8219.
  Click here to view a brochure for Grandparents as Parents
  Click here for brochure concerning Grandparents with Preschoolers

• SAGES (older and wiser people walking alongside families): A community mentoring programme in North Canterbury that provides older volunteers/ mentors who can offer knowledge and skills to families to support and empower them to provide comfortably for their family and improve social connection to the community.
  Contact: SAGES Co-ordinator phone (03) 313 8588.
  Click here to view a SAGES brochure.

• LINK - Learning, Independence, Nurturing, Kinship: A recovery-focused mental health service in North Canterbury that provides group and/or individual support. Recovery plans are tailored to individual need, personal development and coaching is available as well as a great support network.
  Contact: LINK Co-ordinator phone (03) 310 6509.
  Click here to view a LINK brochure.

• Connections: An initiative focused on creating, recreating and strengthening relationships between parents, children and schools. Research confirms that, regardless of economic or cultural background, when parents are partners in their children’s education, the results include improved academic achievement, higher motivation for school work, better school attendance, reduced dropout rates and decreased delinquency. But many parents struggle to balance the demands of their family life with their jobs and other commitments. More employers are recognising the need for employees to have a work-life balance. Connectionsencourages employers to introduce ‘school-time’ for parents to spend with their children at school. We are working towards a ‘family-friendly’ future encompassing schools, parents, employers, children and community.
  Download a Connections brochure.
  

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