Supporting at-risk tamariki and their whanau

Chris Semmens, Barnardos Gisborne Service Manager, says the grant has contributed towards their social workers’ salaries who facilitate their home-based LEAP support group programme, predominantly working with whanau of youth who have suicidal ideations. 

“There’s a lot of support for youth having (suicidal) ideations but no support for the whanau supporting the youth – by way of knowing what to say, when to say it and how to react to certain behaviours,” says Chris. “That’s what we provide with LEAP.” 

LEAP services work closely with families to identify their challenges and aim to strengthen whanau-child relationships. Although the programme is primarily government funded it falls short of covering the full cost to deliver the service.

Through the LEAP programme social workers also work closely with tamariki and whanau facing a multitude of other challenges such as poverty, family violence, alcohol or drug abuse, emotional abuse or neglect and mental health issues.  

“Some of the tamariki and whanau we work with weren’t having their basic needs met even before the Cyclone, so our social workers are there supporting them through these ongoing challenges,” says Chris. “We’re so grateful for the funding support so we can keep reaching out and helping whanau who need us.” 

Barnardos Gisborne was awarded their grant through Sunrise on behalf of The Tindall Foundation (TTF). We are proud to be the local funding manager for TTF, trusted to award grants locally on their behalf.