AGM 22 May 2020

Download PDF

The Aotea Family Support Group Charitable Trust
Te Ropu Manaaki Whanau o Aotea

The Support Group is a not-for-profit community group supporting residents of
Aotea Great Barrier Island with activities and social services for youth, families, senior citizens, the wider community, and especially anybody in crisis.

Our Mission

“Giving every island resident the opportunity to live health, fulfilling, independent lives, and
to fully participate in the community.”

Our Vision

To see the social, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing
of the people of Aotea / Great Barrier Island fulfilled.

Our Philosophy

To provide social services to the people of Great Barrier Island using the following values:

Tika – the right methods and procedures that uphold integrity and confidentiality at all times.

Manaaki – a commitment to provide quality social services.

Aroha – the desire to explore all possibilities while interacting with others.

Foreword by Lisa Eves, Chairperson

For the Aotea Family Support Group 2019 was another busy year. 

We provided ongoing support for 41 residents with the Home Help programme. Our Youth Services entertained 13 Year 7s and Year 8s every Thursday with fun and educational activities and a shared dinner. The Year 8 kids also had an end of year off-island trip to Auckland, where they visited transport agencies and learned the daunting task of travelling by bus and train around the city. 

The School Holiday Programme has been a real success this year, seeing on average 20 kids from age 5 through to age 12 thoroughly entertained for 10 days at the end of every term.  And our Family Services helped over 100 families with parenting courses, counselling, and general crisis assistance as well as enjoying a Family Picnic.

The New Year’s Picnic was another successful fundraising event, especially thanks to our sponsors, with over 1,000 locals and tourists enjoying the food, games, and stalls.

Also in 2019, the GBI Community Health Trust passed the responsibility for the Community Worker project to the Support Group which complements our services well. 

None of this would be possible, of course, without the hard-working care workers, AFSG staff, contractors, and volunteers.  A special mention and thank you needs to be made for the in-kind and cash donations from community members, and to all our funders who continue to support the work we do.  

About us

The Aotea Family Support Group Charitable Trust is an Incorporated Society (AK/610840),
established 1988, and registered with the Charities Commission (CC23301).

Our funders

The Support Group is a non-governmental organisation and receives funding from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Children Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Health, the Auckland District Health Board, Foundation North, the Lottery Grants Board, Auckland Council, the Great Barrier Local Board, and the Department of Internal Affairs with the Community Organisations Grants Scheme, as well as donations from within the community.

Every year the accounts of the trust are externally reviewed. In 2019 the Support Group spent $493,701 on providing our services. $401,141 of this money was paid out to local workers.

Our staff and trustees in 2019

Trustees during 2019 were Lisa Eves (chair), Sue Eves (treasurer), Ralph Golaboski, Norm Winger, Ngaire Avery and Ed Hinson.

Staff: Sue Thompson, Rendt Gorter, Sue Eves, Kellie Cleave, Keri Lyon, Lisa Eves

Volunteers: Too many to name.

Our work in 2019

The trust organises a range of services for families, youth, older people and community members in general. Many volunteers are helping in formal and informal roles in all areas. On average, the trust employs around 30 residents part-time.

Our work is guided by and evaluated against an Outcomes Planning Framework which is reviewed and adapted by staff and trustees twice a year.

Our work is guided by an Annual Plan that defines the Objectives and Services  and what Activities and Outputs we need to deliver to contribute towards the intended Outcomes. We regularly evaluate our Performance and Achievements against our plans and outcomes.

Family Services

Objectives and Services	Planned Activities and Outputs	Performance and Achievements
Family support … for Families (esp. with children at risk of abuse, harm or offending.), … to enable families to function effectively to help them avoid and manage crises better.
General family focused support services, including education, advocacy, crisis assistance, counselling and referral for assistance.	Provide advice, referral to, and advocate on behalf with govt agencies, or provide crisis assistance.	96 families assisted
Parenting workshops incl. awareness of advocacy services.	Mar/Apr: An event for new mums Sept: A workshop with a facilitator.	34 attended
Counselling for parents of children at risk, or experiencing crisis through family violence, family breakdown, grief and loss.	On-island counsellor available.	29 clients
Mentor programme: Mentor support for children and youth.	Find funding and develop a programme.	2 children were mentored during 13 months in total. A long–term programme was developed and proposed to funders.
Youth Programmes … for Young people 12-17 years old … to support young people to grow positively into responsible and successful young adults.
After School Activity Programmes for Year 7/8 primary school (10-13) and invited year 9s.	Weekly after school activities North, South and Central	180 participant days
Youth trip(s)	Off-island trip to Auckland with Y8s in September.	13 participants
Family events  … for Families with children … to organise family friendly, alcohol free events and to provide families with organized activities for children in the school holidays.
New Years Picnic	Jan 2 at Sports Club	Around 1100 attendees.
Family Picnics  A non-commercial, family-friendly, alcohol free event.	December: at Hall/OSB	20 participants
School Holiday Programmes	Two weeks every term break and summer holiday:	857 participant days, about 11 children per day on average.

 

Senior Services

Objectives and Services	Planned Activities and Outputs	Performance and Achievements
Caregiving … … for clients referred from DHB (via AH), ACC & veterans affairs … to provide homehelp services.
Caregiving services for DHB, ACC and VA clients	Trained caregivers provide homehelp; Regular visits to ensure required care is provided, H&S maintained, other issues are addressed or referred.	25 care workers employed; 31 DHB clients on average; Plus 1 chronic care, 1 veteran affairs, and 9 ACC clients.
Home Maintenance services	Safety assessments. Handymen fix small safety and maintenance issues with materials provided by client. Install St John’s alarms.	18 jobs completed
Positive Aging … for Aged residents … to enable older people to fully participate in social and wellbeing activities to experience positive aging and connect with the community.
Over 60s dinners	Monthly meals for up to 50 guests (except Jan).	443 meals eaten; about 40 participants on average
Senior Activities programme	Monthly volunteer led events (excl Jan) involving simple physical activity for up to 10 pp. (or more with own transport).	78 total participation, about 8 on average.
Guided Exercise programme	Weekly sessions during arts-n-crafts meetings, such as Dance Movement, Tai Chi or similar.	59 total participation.
Health and Wellbeing event	Organise one or more information events as opportunity arises.	13 participants.
Facilitating senior social activities	Provide community van use and other assistance for other activities organised by and for older people.	Van was available on request.
Preparing for Aging … for Aging residents (not clients) … to support residents so they can and do adapt as they enter old age.
Advise aging people	Provide advice & info.	32 residents advised

 

 

Community Services

Objectives and Services	Planned Activities and Outputs	Performance and Achievements
Adult Education … for Residents … to enable community members to learn and employ new skills and knowledge to live healthy, fulfilling, independent lives; and … to Support capacity building with life skill learning opportunities including working in partnership with mana whenua.A
Adult education events	Hold events, such as workshops or seminars, to develop practical skills and knowledge, personal development, life skills, wellbeing,  as needs and opportunities arise.	1 event organised
Resources and books	Made available from our office, by our workers and at the Health Centre.	Service was available
Welfare support: … for Vulnerable people … to monitor needs of, and to provide support for, residents finding themselves in real crisis and in need of support, including those escaping from addiction. And … to enable sharing of resources.
Crisis assistance	Provide financial support when genuine need exists and cannot be met by family and government aid.	34 people or families assisted
Monitor welfare needs for informed planning and advocacy	Collect information, attend meetings, liaise with welfare providers and other key informants to report and advocate authentically on welfare needs, to local govt, govt agencies and other stakeholders.	Active liaison with government agencies, Local Board and collaborators.
Operate Clothing Exchange to allow quality clothing to be shared with families.	Monitor and organise the Clothing Exchange building.	Open 7 days a week
Community Support … for Community organisations … to ‘empower our community’ so it is adequately organised and resourced, with individuals, groups, agencies and institutions collaborating effectively towards a shared vision.
Capacity building workshops	Trustee Responsibilities Seminar (ANCAD) in August. With St John workshop on mental health. Team to choose attendance at other workshops or training for own professional development.	16 participants
Operate Community vans	Continue to have the vans available for the Learning Hub and other groups when available.	2750 passengers; 3669 kms driven by van north; 11,419 kms driven by van south.
Support community initiatives with resources and as umbrella	As required, provide umbrella services to non-incorporated groups offering activities and services open to the whole community (or a demographic part of). Provide information and access to resources.	Advice was provided as requested.
Co-facilitate Community Hui	Help organise quarterly events.	Regular events facilitated

Community Worker Project

As the Support Group has a MOU with the GBI Community Health Trust, there has always been good coordination with the Community Worker in order to provide welfare assistance to those in need and for organising initiatives of benefit to the community, including the community group hui.

At the end of 2019, the Community Worker project was passed on to the Support Group and Kellie Cleave was employed for that role.

Other services and activities

In 2019 the Aotea Family Support Group also …

• Provided marquee and gazebos for public and private use.
• Provided a place for surplus clothes and personal goods to be dropped in and picked up by others at the Clothing Exchange.
• Maintained our website at aoteafamilysupport.co.nz with announcements and information, as well as a Facebook page to communicate and engage with our community.

Administration and support

MSD Approved Provider

As a result of the annual audit by MSD, we maintained our OSCAR approval under section 25 of the Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004. The AFSG was thus been confirmed again as an MSD Approved Provider.

Old School Building

Thanks to the continued support from the Tryphena Hall Committee, the Support Group benefits from an excellent office space.

Vehicles

The vehicles operated by the trust consists of four Toyotas: two vans and two passenger cars. Our 7-seater Toyota Kluger has a hybrid engine and since it does most mileage, and runs most efficiently, it saves the trust a much larger fuel bill while reducing carbon emissions a little.

Policies reviewed in the past year:

7.7 Mentoring, 4.7  Police Checks, 5.1  Child Protection, 5.6 Overnight Camps and Outdoor Pursuits on School Holiday Programmes, AFSG Staff Definitions, Conflict of Interest Register, Children’s Worker Risk Assessment form, 4.9 Pandemic Policy, 7.3 Umbrella Group Policy

Youth Opportunity Grant

The 2019 Youth Opportunity Grant was split between Shelby Sanderson and Mitchell Brown.

Health and Safety

The Trust regularly reviewed Health and Safety policies for all activities and places of work. Regular risk assessments and hazard ID were carried out. No notifiable accident occurred during the year.

 

Our supporters: Thank you

The Aotea Family Support Group Charitable Trust is a charity providing the residents of Great Barrier Island with a range of social services, resources, and organised events thanks to public and private funding. Apart from the funders listed above, we also depend on our supporters and partners within the community, often contributing with in-kind donations and help. Special thanks go to Aotea Contractors and also to Aotea Gas and Garden who support us through the year with free gas.

There are also many other organisations that we collaborated with, or assisted each other with providing venues and other resources, including Motairehe and Kawa Marae, St John’s Church, the Great Barrier Heritage Village and Art Gallery, the Barrier Social and Claris Sports Clubs, the schools at Mulberry Grove, Kaitoke and Okiwi, as well as the Sea Education Aotea Trust, the Golf Club and Glenfern Sanctuary.

Crisis support fund

Lastly there are many businesses that sponsor the New Year’s Picnic every year and thus are critical for funding the support that we can offer, particularly those that otherwise would fall through the gaps. The substantial donations and in-kind services given for the New Year’s Picnic deserve special mention as it makes possible the AFSG Crisis Support Fund, available for resident families and individuals who find themselves in need without support from family or government, due to illness, death or other unfortunate circumstances.

Particular thanks are due to Rennie Cox Lawyers, Broady’s, Fly My Sky, Chaos Charters, Aotea Gas/ELGAS, Max Howard, GBI Golf Club, Mount St Paul’s Estate, AB Fuels, The Currach Irish Pub, Shiny Paua Paddle Boards and Kayak Hire, My Fat Puku, Barrier Air, Stonewall Store, Bike Barn, Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust, Dave Erickson, Barrier ITM, Tipi and Bob’s Waterfront Lodge, Aotea Holistic Therapies, Great Barrier Pharmacy, Stray Possum Lodge, Barrier Automotive, and Swallow Catering, who all gave in-kind donations worth 100 to 1,000 dollars each for auction and raffle prizes.

Finally, thank you to our long-standing patronesses, Fenella Christian and Maud McLean.

 

Thank you.