April 2025 Canterbury Caregiver News

I hope everyone is keeping well with this hot and cold forever changing Canterbury weather. It feels like summer is creeping away and Autumn is here to stay!

What a fantastic Foster Care Awareness we’ve had. From hot pools, dessert, picnics, and coffees, I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with so many of you and taking the time to show our appreciation for all the mahi you do every single day. A massive acknowledgment to:

⭐ Barrys Bay Cheese
⭐ Sydehnam Bakery
⭐ Artisian Rangiora Bakery; and
⭐ Kidds Cakes

Without their donations we wouldn’t have been able to have such a successful (and delicious) dessert evening.

⭐ Thank you also to He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools for their discounted entry fees, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools for their family passes and L’Oréal for some lush products throughout Foster Care Awareness.

⭐ A big thank you to Maureen, Bonny, Jarrod and Debbie for their continued support throughout events, I wouldn’t be able to do it without you super stars. Maureen, one of our Canterbury Committee members, made this event even more special with her talented face painting, which was enjoyed by both tamariki and adults!

It has been a privilege to also work alongisde VOYCE Whakarongo Mai kaimahi and partner up on our most recent event in Ashburton.

Congratulations to Amy and Mark Ayers and Catherine and Miles Dalton who received the Excellence in Foster Care Award in Wellington. These two couples from Canterbury joined the other recipients and the team from Caring Families Aotearoa at Government House on Friday 7th March. Unfortunately I wasnt there, but have been told it was a great afternoon celebrating these amazing caregivers and their journeys.

With our events coming to an end for now, I look forward to catching up with you at support groups and please remember I am here to support you and I’m only a phone call away!

In the meantime, here are some pics from our recent Foster Care Awareness events around the Canterbury region.

Lisa

EVENTS

Our friends at VOYCE Whakarongo Mai have organised some fun events with Sport Canterbury for children growing up in care during the school holidays. Details below.

• Disc golf (ages 10+), Tuesday 15 April, 1pm-4pm, Queenspark Disc Golf Course, 8 Radiata Ave, Parklands
• Clip N Climb (ages 7+), Wednesday 16 April, 10am-12pm, Clip ‘n Climb Christchurch, 239 Waltham Road, Sydenham
• Bouldering (ages 12+), Wednesday 16 April, 2pm-4pm, Clip ‘n Climb Christchurch, 239 Waltham Road, Sydenham
• Trampolining (all ages), Thursday 17 April, 2pm-4pm, Mega Air Trampoline Arena, 106A Cameron Road, Hei Hei

To get the registration link, contact Luke – email luke.penrose@voyce.org.nz or phone 021 605 956.

TRAINING

I am delighted to announce that in Term Two we will launch our much-anticipated new self-directed learning platform. This has been developed in response to feedback from you about making training more accessible for everyone to take part in. To find out more about the first two courses we are releasing, please click here.

We also have our last facilitated online training on our old platform this month.

Helping Children Feel Safe – Thursday 3 & Friday 4 April
The emotional age of some tamariki growing up in care can be very different from their actual age. Lisa, our Canterbury Regional Coordinator will host this workshop over two 1.5 hour sessions, helping you to learn more about therapeutic parenting and how to use structure and supervision to help a child feel secure.

To find out more and register, please click here.

SUPPORT

North Canterbury Caregivers Catch up
Wednesday 30th April, 11.00am-1.00pm
Shared Lunch, please bring a plate to share. All welcome!

Please contact Debbie for more information: debbiecurtis1965@gmail.com

Geraldine Support Group
Monday 14 April, 12.00pm
Drift Inn – there is a play area for the children!

Please contact Maureen for more information: coopermaureen@hotmail.com

Christchurch West Caregiver Support Group
We meet the first Tuesday of each month. Next catchup:
Tuesday 1 April, 10.00-12pm

New members and children are welcome!
Please contact Sytske or Bonny sytskenz@gmail.com | bonbazstephens@gmail.com

Whānau Kin Support Group
Meeting monthly, second Thursday of each month. Next meeting:
Thursday 10 April, 10.00am
Cafe Jireh, 81 Bickerton Street, Wainoni

Plenty of parking, children are welcome! Lisa will be group liaison and welcomes all members who are caring for whānau to come and meet for a coffee in a relaxing, spacious and child friendly cafe.

Please contact Lisa for more information canterbury@caringfamilies.co.nz | 0275010005.

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

Also keep an eye on our Canterbury Support Facebook page for information from me and our Support group meet ups!

If you need someone to talk to feel free to connect with me, your regional coordinator. My hours of work are 8.30am – 4.30pm Tuesday to Friday

Phone: 027 501 0005
Email: canterbury@caringfamilies.org.nz

Or you can call our national office 0800 693 323.