Services:

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

Nelson Services for Youth, Children, and Families

Counselling and Education Service

Click here for Nelson Service Centre contact details

Counselling, Group Education programmes focussing on young people, parents, couples, individuals and families, improving communication, ending violence, coping with stress and parenting alone. These services are offered at the Nelson Service Centre and at community venues

Counselling

Male and female counsellors available to provide confidential one to one assistance to address problems of any family member or couples.

Contact: Receptionist (03) 546 9812

Group Learning

Group learning can be tailored to meet the needs of groups in the community.

Ministry of Justice Information Programme for Parents: This free separating/separated parent’s programme has recently been launched by the Ministry Of Justice. Family Works in collaboration with Barnardos are delivering this group work programme in Nelson, Richmond and Stoke. The programme is for four hours delivered in two x two-hour sessions. The information provided during the sessions and to take away is comprehensive. The emphasis in the programme is primarily on raising awareness of the impact of separation conflict on children and what works well in negotiating shared-care arrangements.

Contact: Group Education (03) 546 9812

Family Worker in Schools and Kindergarten

The Youth and Family Worker in Schools and Kindergartens is a volunatry service for families who have concerns about:

• Their child's emotional well-being
• Situations that are preventing their child's learning and enjoyment at school/kindergarten
• Parenting children
• Relationships within the family
• Information about community resources and programmes

The Family Worker can also provide:

• Emotional support and a listening ear
• A neutral advocate for children and their families

All families using the service can expect:

• Personal information kept confidential to those working with the family
• A supportive service, apporpriate to family/parent strengths and needs, and which respect individual cirumstances
• To participate fully in any decision making relating to their children or themselves

Contact: Family Worker (03) 546 9812 

Motueka Mentoring Programme

Mentoring matches children or youth aged between eight and 12 in need of reliable, positive, one-to-one attention with a special adult friend, or mentor, to be a role model.

The outcomes include increased self esteem and a broader range of experiences and skills which will assist the child or youth to make better deceisions and choices in the future. Mentors often find they gain as much, if not more, from the interactions as do the young people they mentor, and friendships often last well beyond the mentoring period.

Matches are based on shared interests or experiences. The mentor will meet with the child or youth once a week for a year and engage in some activity that both enjoy, such as going to the park, playing games, cooking, crafts, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Referrals are made through a variety of community agencies or schools, and referrers remain involved in ongoing supervision for the duration of the relationship. mentors are volunteers sho are throughly screened, trained and provided with ongoing support.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, sponsoring a child to be mentored, or would like more information about the programme, please phone 03 546 9812.