The Waikato newsletter for single parents

Single Parent Services Waikato ( 07 ) 839 1051 Email: [email protected] 0800 457 146

A collaborative project between Link House Agency/Birthright Waikato

Edition 13: August 2015/September 2015 In this issue:

We are in the last month of winter and our vegetable garden has beautiful silver

 Activity Guide and

beet growing and broccoli starting to appear, there was even a cucumber that

One Off Events

managed to grow through the cold wet wintery days which was amazing to see during this time of the year. Speaking of this time of the year we also have had

 Registered

Members Page  Single Parent News

some very exciting things happening in the last couple of months bringing together both Link House Agency and Birthright Waikato to form Single Parent Services Waikato. This has been exciting with the launch of our new Website

Cheap Findings in the Waikato

and Facebook page so please feel free to follow us on Facebook and post com-

 Registration

and the rest of New Zealand. Don’t forget to check out what will be happening

mentary that you feel are relevant to other single parents around the Waikato over the next two months on our Activity Guide and one off events page. You

information  Waikato News

can also access this Newsletter on our new Website. www.spsw.org.nz.

Single Parent Services Waikato 2 Dawson Street Open 9-4pm

Key Contacts Social Work Staff

Counselling Staff

Administrators

Practicum Students

Lisa Herbison Maria Davis Alison Coughlan Ange Seiuli

Toia Chase Dianne Carter Nancy Shirley

Sheryl Ririnui Lauralee Hughes

Lynette Smith Renee Kelly Cecile Williams Dan Hilson Tania Aoake Krystal King

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT Call the agencies on 839 1051 or (0800 457 146) A collaborative project between Link House Agency and Birthright Waikato

Manager Rebecca Fraser Assistant Manager Kathleen Miller

Activity Guide: August 2015/September 2015 A taste of some of the activities around Hamilton in the next couple of months. If you are interested in events or activities please ring to confirm accuracy of timing and information.

Mon

Coffee Group: 10am—12pm some of the best conversations happen over a hot cup of coffee. Come meet new people and get involved in the conversation ph. 0800 77 57 57 Wester Boarders: Boardgame Club. Bring your own boardgames or play ours! CCG’s welcome during school term. The large room—46 Hyde Ave, Nawton, Western Community Centre 4pm—9pm Sewing class 10am—Midday: Tutor Fiona Thomson Cost $50 Holders of a Community Services Card can receive a Waimarie subsidy

Tues

Traditional Maori Healing: Wayseer based at the centre Tuesday evenings, contact David Kukutai Jones 022 569 4288 [email protected] Little Stars Playgroup: Every Tuesday from 9.30am—12pm bring the children along for a morning of fun! 108 Granview Road, Nawton, Hamilton 07 847 4873 Cooking tips for baby and toddler: 9am—1pm August 4 Cost $30 per person or $15 with community services card (2-day course) Budgeting & Stepping up: 1pm-3pm. Link House, working through a budget with Maria. Ph 839 1051

Weds

Winz Advisor: 10am @Link House/Birthright Every 2nd Wednesday first come first serve bookings essential. Ph 839 1051. Toitoi Manawa: FREE 10am-2pm Link house/Birthright (Harakeke-korowai) Flower designing-Life skills, Health, Education, Welfare, Employment. Self Esteem, Confidence Building. Dealing with domestic violence keeping ourselves safe. Knowing when to get out and keeping ourselves safe.– Call Maria on 839-1051 Storytime Puaawai: Storytime s a fun filled preschool programme, tailored specifically for babies, toddlers and preschoolers 10.30am Central Library Garden Place 07 838 6824 Budgeting: 1pm-3pm. Link House, working through a budget with Maria. Ph 839 1051

Thurs

Friday

Get crafty: 12.45pm-2.30pm Create and practice paper and other simple crafts. Garden Place Library, Level 1. Zumba: Discovery Church hall cnr Peachgrove & Insoll Ave, $4-$10 first class free for new comers 6.30—7.30pm (Toning) Ph Raelene 027 858 0675 Self Esteem: Beginning at the start of each month running for 4 weeks on a Thursday. Gain the confidence you need to communicate with others. Phone 07 839 1051 Birthright/Link House to register Lil Groovers: Got kidsfrom 0-10 years old keen to dance? 45 minute dance classes for littlies to really get them going $50 per term or $6 casual rate-family discounts available. More info [email protected] call Cat on 021 525 795.

One off Events 19th Annual Book Fair Te Rapa Racecourse, TeRapa Road, Hamilton Friday 4 September 2015—6 September 2015. Building Awesome Whanau A six session course for parents of 0-12 year olds. Session one—Building your family on Aroha. Session two—Protecting your whanau. Session three—Boundaries to keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. Session four—Atmosphere is everything! Session five—Communication. Session six—Living in the big wide world. Tuesday 18th August to Tuesday 22nd September 2015 @ The Link on Te Aroha Street 10am to 12 noon. To book phone Single Parent Services Waikato (07) 8391051

REGISTERED MEMBERS PAGE Family Lawyer SELF ESTEEM COURSE (4 WEEKS)

FREE Legal Advice

Thursdays from 10am to 12pm

Booking Essential

6 August 2015—27 August 2015

Ring Lauralee

3 September 2015—24 September 2015

07 839 1051

Facilitators: Rebecca Fraser & Toia Chase Cost: $10 (Single Parent members/ $20 Non members) Contact Lauralee: 839 1051 Single Parent Services Waikato Thank you to Rosalie for the donation of Pyjamas on behalf of Kiwanis Club of Westside Hamilton FREE WIFI INTERNET:

Playgroups for single parents (and some others) LITTLE STARS

You are welcome to come in to FREE held on Tuesdays 9.30am-11.30am Link House and use one of our Grandview Rd, Nawton Tablets to search the internet Contact Maria: 839 1051 for whatever information you need. Call reception to book Toitoi Manawa the use of the Tablet and come Harakeke-korowai in, make yourself a coffee and Wednesday Mornings 10 to 12pm sit on our deck enjoying the Spend some time in a friendly environment learnsun and surfing the net. This is ing some new skills and maybe sharing some old a really pleasant way to search ones. for jobs, health information, Creating with harakeke using traditional methods. courses or anything else you are interested in. AVAILABLE Stay and have lunch and keep talking with the group afterwards. All single parents welcome. AFTERNOONS, TUESDAY to FRICall Maria on 07 839-1051 DAY. Call reception to book. Toolbox Budgeting

WINZ

With Maria

Advisor

Bookings

Bookings

Essential

Essential

Call 839 1051

Call Lauralee 839 1051

Building Awesome Whanau A six session course for parents of 0—12 year olds If you’re looking after tamariki, The Parenting Place can help you become an awesome parent or grandparent or caregiver—even more awesome than you already are! Tuesday 18th August to Tuesday 22nd September 2015 @ The Link on Te Aroha St 10am to 12 noon To book phone Single Parent Services Waikato (07) 839 1051

I met with Debbie Kerr today, a familiar face here at Single Parent Services Waikato who always greets us in return with a very vibrant smile everytime she comes to visit. Debbie is a single parent who has been a client of the agency for the past 8 months and come to us because she wanted to meet other single parents in Hamilton after moving here to a new town. She has been in Hamilton for a year and been with the agency has encouraged her not to be afraid of her new surroundings and environment. We have also helped her to settle with her son Jack whom we met at the family camp during the beginning of the year back in February. Jack really enjoyed the camp and the adventures of meeting people and finding out more about the people he already knew. His dad chose not to have contact and child care has always been hard but Debbie has journeyed on and made adjustments keeping in mind that they don’t stay young for long before they follow their dreams. Speaking of dreams, Debbie first crossed the ditch to Australia at the age of 9 years with her mum and by the age of 12 years she had her first audition. She is very passionate about music and has always had the support of her family. These days Debbie doesn’t have much spare time as she has been devoted to caring for her mum for the past 12 months however when she does have spare time she spends her days reading for inspiration but would love to undertake study that would allow her to tutor music and singing she would also like to do study in a couple of other areas such as Teaching and Sociology because she is also interested in people and history. Debbie enjoys listerning to country and southern blues—her mother was also a country music lady so the genre has followed through with Debbie since she was young as she begins to remember part taking in a hoe-down some 20 years ago now she has also been playing the guitar for a year. Now her goal is to find part time work. She also jumped on board our last programme for Computers in Homes which runs for ten weeks and is available once a year. Lastly, Debbie has shared part of her story on our website, so she is a bit of a star! We wish Debbie and Jack all the best for future endeavors from the team at Single Parent Services Waikato.

Cheap Findings in the Waikato

Family Works (07) 858 4413

Family works as a Number of Programmes available to help!! Incredible Years—Do you need support to be the best parent you can? 5 August to 18 November, 2015 Free Strengthening Step Families Programme. Do you want a more positive relationship with your stepchildren? 28 July – 2 September, 2015 Sweetcorn fritters (serves 4) Ingredients: ¾ cup plain flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt pinch black pepper 1 egg 1 tin (440g) tin creamed sweetcorn 1-2 tbsp oil 2 tsp parsley or oregano (chopped) Method: 1. Put flour, baking powder, salt and pepper into a bowl. 2. Add egg and mix until it is a smooth mixture. If the

Restore Over—coming the effects of abuse—Free programme for 8—12 Years olds. 27 July – 14 September, 2015 WAVE—Women against violence. Do you want to break the cycle of violence? 6 August – 19 July, 2015 For programme dates 2015 Contact Family Works 07 858 4413 or go online to www.northern.familyworks.org.nz

mixture is too thick add 2-3 tbsp milk to mixture to thin it down. 3. Stir in sweetcorn. 4. Heat oil in a frying pan. 5. Drop

Veggie, Fruit and Meat

a tablespoon of corn mixture into the pan. 6. Cook until golden then turn and cook other side. 7. Serve with salad A bag of fresh vegetables and fruit for only $10 Order and pay before Wednesday 4pm, Pick up Thursday after 11am The Western Community Centre

Pukete Neighbourhood House: $12 a box of assorted veggies and fruit exceptionally good value. Phone: 07 849 1115 before 2.30pm on Wed to order. Pick up is after 9.30am on Thurs. Meat $20 can be ordered same time as Veggie. Western Community Centre: $10 a box order and pay before Wednesday 5pm, pick up Thursday after 11am.

46 Hyde Avenue, Hamilton 07 847 4873 VEGETABLE CO-OP—The veggie co-op has been running for at least fifteen years. The $12 box of assorted veggies and fruit is exceptionally good value. Ring the “ Pukete Neighbour Hood House” 8491 115 before 2.30pm on a Wednesday to order. Pickup is after 9.30am on Thursdays. Please provide a box

Markets Frankton Market: Saturday, 8am – 1pm Commerce Street, Frankton Night Market: Every Saturday Night 5 – 11pm Kmart Car Park Bryce Street Hamilton Farmers Market: Sunday Morning From 8 – 12 noon River Road Car Park, 204 River Road

Annual Membership Registration

I agree with the purpose and aim of Single Parent Services Waikato and wish to register as a member for the year starting. Date:......................................................................................................... Please indicate which amount you are paying: □ $ 10 Client

□ $ 25 Member/Organisations

Please indicate which group you are: □ Client (individual or family)

□ Member

□ Friend of Birthright/Link House

As a registered member you are entitled to: Receive our bimonthly newsletter Attend our Annual General Meeting Participate in events for registered members where possible and appropriate access to Resources and tickets to shows etc.

Name ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ Phone No___________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________________ Date______________________________________________________ Bank details : Birthright 03 0306 0188 421 00 (Birthright transfers half of all these membership monies to Link House - we share your membership and you get to share us!)