Nor'West News: August 13, 2020

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4 Thursday August 13 2020 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz NOR’WEST NEWS News ‘Aunties’ helping vulnerable women Neighbourhood groups, organisations and charities play an important part in keeping communities supported in a number of ways. The Christchurch Aunties chairwoman Heather Milne speaks to Bea Gooding about how they help vulnerable women and children experiencing family violence Walk me through what services The Christchurch Aunties provide and how it came to be what it is today. We’re a network of 4000 people who provide practical support and donations for women and children in Christchurch, Selwyn District, and Waimakariri District, who have experienced family violence and vulnerability. We work with staff at about 11 organisations (such as women’s refuges), who tell us what they need for their clients, then we get it to them by mobilising our network. We regularly provide toiletries, SUPPORT: The Christchurch Aunties founder Heather Milne, who provides crucial assistance for women and children experiencing family violence. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN security items and emergency trips funding. When women are setting up new homes after relocating, we provide new or quality second-hand furniture and bedding. Sourcing and donating baby gear is another area that we excel at. In addition to those regular requests, we sometimes receive client-specific donation requests such as gadgets and weighted blankets for children with behavioural or communication issues, quality sports gear, birthday cakes, and vouchers for local attractions. The Christchurch Aunties started in 2014 when Jackie Clark in Auckland (who founded The Aunties movement up there) put me in touch with a woman who was moving to Christchurch for her safety. It became apparent that there were many people in the community who wanted to help, and that there was a way to harness social media and business connections to get results. This was a time when I also realised how much learning I had (and still have) to do about family violence, discrimination, and unconscious bias. In 2017, I gathered a group of people around me to be the board of The Christchurch Aunties. We set the wheels in motion with systems, policy, communications, and finally, charitable status earlier this year. It’s been an amazing journey so far. What does it mean to be an “auntie?” Anyone, anywhere can be an “auntie.’’ The only rules are that you need to be kind, and not judge people. That last bit is striking because it’s human nature to judge – we’re all guilty of it. We have Christchurch Aunties who regularly donate toiletries and new bedding. Others have set up regular payments into our account. We have a team of volunteers who get hands-on and help us move things, do administrative tasks, mend furniture, test electrical gear, and tidy our storage. There are also hundreds of Christchurch aunties who share information about us and get us in touch with other donors. All of this support is part of the giant jigsaw that makes it so successful.
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday August 13 2020 5 and children experiencing violence Why is an organisation like The Christchurch Aunties important for the community? The immediate importance of The Christchurch Aunties is that we relieve the mental load for women and children experiencing family violence and vulnerability, and we also relieve the mental load of the staff who are caring for them. Our donations go towards keeping people warm, safe, and feeling valued. Another important role we have is to cultivate the nurturing and generous side of the Canterbury community that we’ve seen so much of in the past 10 years. People really want to help and learn, but don’t always know how. So we gently introduce people to the concept of volunteering and support, and how to donate effectively so that recipients feel respected. What are the major issues currently impacting those who you serve, and why? The issue that we’ve seen recently impacting families is Covid-19 and the lockdown. This situation became like a pressure cooker of social isolation and financial stress for many. Children were home from school and saw the violence happening. Solo parents struggled to get supplies as they couldn’t leave their children at home, but also couldn’t take them to the supermarket. In the days before level 4, we frantically gave out all our supplies of toiletries, activities, and fuel/supermarket vouchers to organisations – not knowing when we’d be able to supply them again. Luckily we were granted essential status, but the increased demand for basic donations of toiletries, security gear, and vouchers have continued. Canterbury has functioned with a post-traumatic stress disorder faultline running under us since 2010. So although the lockdown was the catalyst for recent spikes in family violence, there has been an increase for some time. The social workers and support staff who we see working with the clients and families have dealt with the increase for so long, that I think it’s become the ‘new normal’. They do an incredible job. IMPACT: Christchurch Youth Council co-ordinator Kate Burgess (left) helps The Christchurch Aunties founder Heather Milne deliver jackets to families in need. What are some misconceptions about family violence and vulnerability that the average person may not know about? Why is this the case? There is a very common assumption that family violence happens to people in other neighbourhoods and to other families. A very mistaken belief is that family violence is only experienced by people who are struggling financially. For a long time, family violence wasn’t talked about in New Zealand, so I think a lot of misconceptions sprung up simply from ignorance – and humans are reluctant to change their thought patterns. There are Christchurch aunties out there who have experienced violence and vulnerability in the past or have supported their family or friends through the system. These people are from diverse backgrounds and cultures. They are from all walks of life. Moving forward, how can organisations and society better support those experiencing these hardships and the reduction of harm within homes? And why? As a society, we can’t make any real impact until we stop and listen. I urge people to get educated on family violence and poverty in New Zealand. Be open-minded and learn about your unconscious bias. Listen to those who speak from experience – they know more than you do on this subject. It’s okay to change the way you think about things. Your behaviour with these simple steps will inspire others, including children. Know who to contact for advice and support when someone you know comes to you angry or hurt. There are a whole lot of great people out there who can help. 6 MARCH LINCOLN 2021 3 CG EVENTS presents LIVE IN LINCOLN JON STEVENS THE NOISEWORKS +INXS COLLECTION STAN WALKER JORDAN LUCK BAND ANNIE CRUMMER JASON KERRISON OPSHOP • THE LADY KILLERS RODNEY FISHER GOODSHIRT • CHE FU SUPERGROOVE NATHAN KING + ANDY LYNCH ZED AUTOMATIC 80’s THE REMNANTS OF HELLO SAILOR Tickets On Sale Now www.selwynsounds.co.nz The Fan Brigade Ben Hurley comedy night [ R18 ] 5 t h ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL saturday 17 october in lincoln ONLY $44+BF tickets on sale now www.liveinlincoln.nz BRIDGESTONE LINCOLN Jarred Fell Alan McElroy CRATE & BARREL LEESTON
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Nor'West News: August 13, 2020

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