Hope you have all got your Spy costumes sorted and are ready to let your hair down at Changeover next week. Come along and have a fantastic night to thank our outgoing President and Directors and welcome in the new team.  See you at Totara Springs at 5.30 next Tuesday.  

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Our guest speakers last week were Jo McIntosh, Whitney Hennessy and Karissa Vosper, giving us an update on the work of Starfish Social Services in our community.

 

 

 

Starfish is a not-for-profit charitable trust who offer professional therapeutic services and social services across the Matamata Piako District as well as supporting the South Waikato with Counselling services. While they began in the children and youth space, they now also support adults through professional therapeutic services and/or programs.

 

Starfish is backed by a board of Trustees who live locally and provide a range of skills to the team. They are also supported by a farming trust who assist them with financial support.

 

Starfish have a long history of supporting the very diverse youth communities of the district through youth leadership and development, event planning, counselling and social work as well as mentoring. For many years they also provided alternative education services until they were no longer able to sustain this. 

 

Recently they have added two new contracts to their work, which is a Heartlands Service and also a licensing service. 

 

Heartlands is for everyone - it is a walk in service where Whittney will help to liase with whatever organisation is required. From helping clients to fill out forms for Work and Income, ACC, IRD etc, to giving support to the community and working with the Police and Women's Refuge, or just whatever is required. Her role is to help.

 

Social justice & Standing in the Gap.

There is so much change facing us, our families and our world, that they are finding that people are experiencing more anxiety and depression than ever before. Social Justice is an integral part of what Starfish do in our Community. For example - 

White Ribbon Day, International Women"s Day, Pink Shirt - Anti Bullying and Community Events.

 

 

Starfish are a fantastic organisation who do so much for our community and fill a very important role.    

 

 

 

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