Social Agencies Combine to Better Help Local Families
Ana Christmas, Executive Director and Nelene De Beer, Clinical Manager for the newly merged Kindred Family Services.
Two of the key social agencies in our local community are joining forces with the belief that what they can achieve as one, is greater than what can be achieved as two separate organisations.
The Helensville Women and Family Centre and Kia Tīmata Anō Women’s Refuge have merged and will now be known as Kindred Family Services.
Executive Director Ana Christmas is excited by the new name which she says not only speaks to the sharing of values and mission at the heart of the two organisations, but also to the importance of relationships and building trust.
“Our focus,” she says, “is on providing safe and nurturing experiences for people to grow and heal and Kindred is a word that we can really make our own as we help people weave a new story for their own futures and the future of our community.”
The first change people will notice will be the new name and logo featuring on signage alongside the Helensville Women and Family Centre’s existing flags outside its offices in the old Post Office building in Commercial Road.
“The Helensville Women and Family Centre has been a huge part of this community for over a quarter of a century, so it’ll take some time for people to get used to our new name, but what won’t be changing are the amazing people who are part of our team and their commitment to the people who live here,” says Nelene De Beer, who was Clinical Manager at the Women’s Centre and stays in that role under the newly merged organisation.
Also continuing will be Kia Tīmata Anō’s secure safe house which last year provided sanctuary and refuge for 14 women and 18 children.
“Our refuge is vitally important and always will be, but what we hope with this merger is that by helping more people with counselling, advocacy, Family Support and other wrap-around services we’ll help people avoid the sorts of stresses that can lead to family violence in the first place,” explains Ana.
In a climate where so many charities have to work hard for funding, the merger will mean the organisations have greater financial stability and can grow sustainably to help even more people.
“It may not be widely known, but both Kia Tīmata Anō and the Helensville Women and Family Centre have for a long time been helping people from Riverhead, Kumeu, Muriwai, Waimauku and right up to Glorit,” says Ana Christmas, “and as Kindred Family Services we’ll be able to help even more people, helping the entire northwest Rodney and South Kaipara area flourish.”
The two organisations have worked alongside each other in various ways over the years, most recently as two of the key players in the formation of the Kai Collective, a foodbank set up during the first COVID-19 lockdown.
“The Kai Collective is a great example of how, in a time of crisis, we can find a way to harness the spirit and resources of our community and it’s been such a privilege to see the very real and positive changes the food parcels are making for people who are doing it pretty hard right now because of COVID.”
Another upcoming focus is the Turning The Tide Fundraising Event which has been the major fundraiser for the Kia Tīmata Anō Women’s Refuge for the last three years. The event was to have been held in May but was postponed due to the first lockdown and is now, all things going to plan, set to happen on Sunday 11 October.
Participants walk the 17-kilometres from Rimmer Road end of Muriwai Beach to the Muriwai Surf Club and raise funds and awareness for a family violence free community.
