
An increase in demand for help at Mid-South Island Women’s Refuge and Family Safety Service has seen an office set up at Community House Mid Canterbury.
It will be open every Thursday and staffed by integrated safety response advocate Hahano Latu.
Refuge general manager Maria Parish said 121 clients in Mid Canterbury had been assisted by the service in the past year to June 30.
‘‘This is five per cent of our clients within the whole of the service which stretches from Ashburton to Aoraki to north of Palmerston,’’ Parish said.
Last week Latu was joined by fellow tenants and staff at Community House for a purple morning tea in support of Women’s Refuge ‘‘Paint the Town Purple’’ fundraising campaign.
Ashburton, along with Timaru and Oamaru business and community groups, were invited to create purple themed displays.
The winner in each region will get a trophy to retain for a year.
In Ashburton, campaign coordinator Anna Arrowsmith said those not into having a display could hold a morning tea or dress in purple for a day.
‘‘We want people to get involved in the display or morning tea etc to help raise awareness of the work of Women’s Refuge as well as raising much needed funds,’’ Arrowsmith said.
Among the places setting up displays for the competition is Community House Mid Canterbury.
Facilities manager Robbie Ross said it liked to support special events tenants were involved such as the ‘‘Paint the Town Purple’’ campaign.
Women’s Refuge offer free, confidential services which included a 24/7 Crisis Line, temporary safe emergency accommodation for wahine and tamariki who experienced abuse as well as advocacy and support and education programmes
Among them protected and non protected adults and children, and STAR for those who have been affected by sexual abuse.
Parish said job losses, businesses closing and costs of living placed extra pressure on whanau which could lead to unhelpful behaviour and reactions.
The concept of families had changed over recent years and now the service was not only seeing women who had been affected, but also men.
The service worked with the whole whanau, those affected, the children and the perpetrator.
‘‘Our service provides a lot of information, advocacy helping victims understand what to do, ways to stay safe and prepare a safety plan. We want to give them as many tools as we can for their tool kit,’’ she said.
The service was about safety first, but also working with families to address what has lead to the situation they are in.
‘‘We don’t want to break families up. We want to give the victim a voice and empower them.
‘‘We want the tamariki to understand it is not their fault this situation has occurred ,’’ Parish said.
– To enter the Paint the Town Purple competition, go to Safe Families Ashburton Facebook page. If you need Women’s Refuge, phone the 24/7 Crisis Line, ph 0800 00 77 50.