02/08/2006

Morrinsville Community House - Healing our Community

Morrinsville Community House has been able to extend its programme of helping women rebuild their lives after abusive relationships, thanks to funding from SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust.

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust grant means the House can once again offer one of its most valuable courses ‘Stepping Out’ for free this year, facilitated by Hamilton Abuse Intervention Programmes.

The ‘Stepping Out’ course is designed to help women who live, or have lived, with abuse of violence.

Morrinsville Community House has listened to and supported the local community since 1990. During that time it has grown into a large and busy centre offering counselling, social services, adult education and community support.

Jo Hughes from Morrinsville Community House says that funding such as this is vital for the House to offer its services.

“The majority of our clients are from low income families so we endeavour to provide services that meet the needs of the community at either free or affordable costs. With the funding from SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust, we’re delighted that we can offer the course for free this year, “ Jo Hughes says.

“The changes we see in many women as a result of ‘Stepping Out’ are just wonderful. They learn how to recognise abuse, realise what is unacceptable, and look at the steps that need to be taken to reclaim and rebuild their lives.

“Many of these women make major changes after completing the course, either by stepping out completely and breaking ties or by bringing awareness to partners, family and whanau, and working towards healing their lives,” she says.

This month, Morrinsville Community House will present a unique opportunity for the local community to hear from best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Celia Lashlie.

Celia Lashlie is a researcher and commentator, dedicated to keeping young people from following a path to prison, suicide, or death on our roads. She is the author of ‘The journey to prison: Who goes and why?’ and ‘He’ll be okay - growing gorgeous boys into good men’.

Jo Hughes says that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which should not be missed.

“Celia’s seminar, ‘Parenting Boys’, will challenge us all, parents, teachers and policy makers, to question why so many of our young men slip through the cracks and do not reach their full potential.
We are very fortunate to have secured this time with Celia. This was the only available evening in her calendar for the entire year,” says Jo.

“Celia is respected for her funny, honest, and no nonsense approach to a subject that should concern us all - how to teach our young men to make good choices so that they can reach their full potential. I urge parents, and future parents, to come along to hear what Celia has to say.”

Seminar: ‘Parenting Boys’
Date: Wednesday 23 August
Time: 6.15pm,
The seminar is open to all. Koha at the door.

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust was established in 2003, as part of the SKYCITY Hamilton licence application process, to provide funds for community and charitable purposes. Over the last three years the Trust has distributed a total of $1,147,261 through 274 grants.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Carla Ellerby, SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Phone: 09 363 6241
Mobile: 021 389 150
E-mail: carla.ellerby@skycity.co.nz