Services:

• Older People
• Youth, Children & Families
• Mental Health
• Elder Care Canterbury

New Direction for Presbyterian Support

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island is to change its focus as a result of a new strategic direction announced by Executive Director John Elvidge.

“This strategic direction has two major aspects, one of which firms up our services for older people at home and another which widens the scope of our family services,” he says.  

The new strategic direction is the result of a detailed review process involving referrers, donors, clergy and staff. “Following the sale of our homes, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island developed a number of services in all our regions, some in partnership with others. We grew 27 of them, not one paying its way. It was time for review,” Mr Elvidge says.

“We continue to see helping older people living at home, particularly those who are becoming increasingly frail, as an important service. We can envisage ways to assist this group without the disruptive move into institutional care.

“We also see that the family is frail and in need of support. Many children are not getting the skills, the knowledge, the values and attitudes with which to face an increasingly hostile world. For many of us, this parenting was done by our family. This is less so today, compounded by the broken or impermanent nature of many adult relationships. If we could do something about this parenting lack we would be doing something which would not only assist children but bring about a better society, a better tomorrow.”