Front, From left; Sheree McKenzie and grandson Phillip, Peter Walden and mokopuna Aliyana
Marsh, and Lorna Hurihanganui at right.
Back, Lesina Walden (left) and Wiki Flavell.
A grant of $2700 from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust is helping the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust better communicate with, and support, its growing membership in Rotorua.
Sheree McKenzie, thecoordinator for the Rotorua Support Group, says 68 families and 100 children are involved in the organisation here
She describes Grandparents Raising Grandchildren as a self-help organisation, and the numbers it is serving are only the tip of the iceberg,with many more families facing similar dilemmas.
The nationally-based non-profit organisation provides educational and support services for children and their grandparents or kin carers in circumstances where they cannot be raised by theirparents. It supports about 3,000 families.
Sheree says the grant will help the local branch to liaise better with its members through its new home base in the Parksyde Community Centre. The grant has enabled the purchase of a phone able to be called directly by members without incurring costs on their mobile phones.
Petrol costs add up,so these are now also able to be covered when visits are required to assist members at home.
The difficulty for grandparents particularly was that it was often assumed they were in a position to assume responsibility for grandchildren. They may be willing to do so, but may also be struggling on limited means or fixed incomes, and with health issues.
“Rather than coping alone with the challenges they face, we can help support them and work to ensure they can access financial entitlements, legal advice, counselling and respite care when needed,” says Sheree.
The support group produces a newsletter, meets monthly at Parksyde, has family and whanau outings and field officers available to assist in dealing with government agencies,such as Work and Income NZ and Child, Youth and Family.
Sheree says “We are very grateful for the support of the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. The grant will make a big difference to the lives of our families.”
If you would like to find out more about, or join, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren go to their website at www.grg.org.nz or call 09 480 6530 or 0800 472 637.
For more information, contact:
Sheree McKenzie
Rotorua Support Group Coordinator
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust
020 402 2910
For national enquiries email office@grg.org.nz or phone 09 480 6530