Helping Franklin thrive

Throughout the summer, charities are still working hard for families in need.

One of these charities, the Pukekohe Community Action, runs programmes offering practical and emotional support that help people at all stages of life. These include parents, children, seniors who may be grieving or lessons for first-time parents.

Pukekohe Community Action Group director Jan Wallace said that the group runs some programmes designed to meet the social changes that people come across during their lives.

One of these programmes, aimed at first-time parents, called Space, gives first-time parents a chance to meet people in similar situations. It gives them a chance to talk about shared issues and discuss problems they may be having.

“They are learning in that time that to give your time to your child is really important, and it’s when you do that, that the child has good relationships and good communication skills with their parents that carry them through the teenage years,” Wallace said.

The second programme is called Seasons for Growth that is run for people facing significant changes in their lives. They run this programme in schools, and have an after-school programme, as well as a parents’ group, which helps parents support their children.

The changes they are going through can be anything: a deceased friend or relative, a new community or country, or perhaps trouble at home.

“There’s a lot that young people must adapt to, and children talk freely and share their stories in a group situation.

“We also have two play groups (named Oasis), which run on Mondays and Fridays, that are different from the other groups. It covers children doing crafts and activities as well as stories, music, movement and free play.

“This is a good way of helping people settle into the community. Pukekohe is a very generous community, and we are well supported in the food bank that we run, through the local growers and food providers in the area.”