Community groups win Earthquake Awards

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 15:00

Geoff Sloan

Forty-one community groups funded by Government have been recognised for the way they have worked over the last year supporting families, the community and each other after the Christchurch earthquakes.

The Greater Canterbury Social Sector Awards were given by the Greater Canterbury Community Response Forum, a group of community and government representatives responsible for improving the delivery of social services across Canterbury.

They were presented by Amy Adams, Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Sue McKenzie, Forum member, at the Christchurch Social Sector Awards ceremony which was held at the Chateau on the Park after the Memorial Service today.

Terry Donaldson, Forum spokesperson, said the way the community sector responded to events following the earthquakes deserves to be acknowledged.

The Canterbury community sector has shown extraordinary leadership. Their responsiveness to the needs of families and communities following the earthquakes and the innovative ways they worked together, and with government, meant that the impact on families was lessened, he said.

These awards are a way of showing our appreciation and admiration for the work they did.

The awards:

Greater Canterbury Social Service Sector Award 2011 for Community Responsiveness following the Earthquake - Aranui Community Trust Incorporated Society Te Runanga O Nga Maata Waka Incorporated,Te Whare Roimata Trust, Canterbury Communities' Earthquake Recovery Network,

Greater Canterbury Social Service Sector Award 2011 for Innovation - 0800 Canterbury Support and Counselling Line provides the people of Canterbury with immediate access to counselling and other social services as they are needed.

The organisations that contributed to the success of the helpline are:

Strengthening Families Canterbury

Social Service Providers Aotearoa Incorporated - Canterbury

Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatan ga

St John of God Waipuna

Barnardos Canterbury

Methodist Mission Christchurch

Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island)

Te Runanga O Nga Maata Waka Incorporated

Christchurch Resettlement Services

Youthline Auckland Charitable Trust

Lifeline Auckland

Greater Canterbury Social Service Sector Award 201 for Collaboration Following the Earthquake -

Police Liaison - Families of the Bereaved provided wrap around social services for the families of the bereaved.

The organisations that contributed to the success of this initiative are:

Strengthening Families - Canterbury

Home and Family Society, Christchurch Incorporated

Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island)

Methodist Mission Christchurch

Te Puna Whaiora

Barnardos Canterbury

Christchurch Resettlement Services

Refugees as Survivors New Zealand

Victim Support

Greater Canterbury Social Service Sector Award 2011 for Leadership Following the Earthquake

Earthquake Support Coordination Service - helped families directly affected by the earthquakes navigate their way through the many issues they had to deal with.

The organisations that contributed to the success of this service are:

Aranui Community Trust Incorporated Society

Home and Family Society, Christchurch Incorporated

Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island)

Methodist Mission Christchurch

Te Puna Whaiora

Barnardos Canterbury Area

Christchurch Resettlement Services

Pacific Trust Canterbury

St John of God Waipuna

Te Runanga O Nga Mata Waka Incorporated

Age Concern Canterbury