Responding to violence  

Working to reduce violence

Throughout Auckland and Northland, volunteer groups are working to reduce violence in our community. Already this year, the ASB Trusts have put almost $300,000 into several key projects.

Auckland-based Preventing Violence in the Home has been granted $150,000 for its work, which includes crisis response teams, a telephone crisis line, advocacy services and community education.

The work of this group, formerly known as the Domestic Violence Centre, has received ongoing support from the ASB Trusts, which has granted it almost $500,000 since 1999.

Whangarei’s Miriam Centre Child Abuse Research and Treatment Unit Trust, which works with  children across the Northland region, has been granted $112,000.

The centre has worked with more than 11,000 children and families over the past 18 years and has been proactive in schools and the community.

Its Wrap-Around programme helps children who are displaying extreme anger and violence in their school, family or community.

These are children of primary school age who are pulling weapons on teachers and peers, going to school under the influence of drugs, abduction and sexual violence against younger children, intimidation and bullying.

Miriam Centre staff work intensively with the children, teachers, parents and communities to empower them to identify, face and address issues and move toward non-violent, safe and compassionate lives.

The work of Violence Free Waitakere has also gained a grant, with $23,898 going to its community awareness project.

Previously known as Zero Tolerance to Violence, the group aims to create awareness of the effects and causes of violence. It provides education and support for peaceful conflict resolution in schools and communities in Waitakere.

Meanwhile, not-for-profit groups working with disadvantaged and disabled people have been given almost $500,000 in the latest round of grants.

Whangarei’s One Double Five Whare Roopu Community House has been granted $165,000 to support its community work – including whanau support, free legal advice, an alternative education programme and a film unit which gives students acting, directing and film production skills.

Whangarei’s Arataki Ministries has been granted $180,000 for its work in the mental health sector. And New Zealand CCS Auckland has been granted $112,408 for the repair and upgrade of projects in Auckland and Northland.