Articles published by print/web media

Index

> Finding art behind prison bars
> Charity art reflects life for inmates
> Coddington reacts to Key address
> Key strikes a chord
> Plea to review aid for young
> Family agency cuts abuse cycle
> Kahui deaths tip of abuse iceberg
> Profile on Bill Pringle
> Breaking the family ties that bind
> Support Essential, says Community Board
> Breaking the cycle - A volunteer's view

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Finding art behind prison bars
- Christchurch Press, 27 April 2007, page A4

Every day about 7.30am Robert heads to an art studio to begin work at his craft. What makes Robert different from other artists, however, is his incarceration in Christchurch Mens' Prison. Artworks from Robert . . . and other inmates will be auctioned on May 4 at the prison to raise money for the Family Help Trust. The trust works with the children of high-risk Canterbury families, including those with criminal offending in their backgrounds. Robert, who has been a prisoner for over 20 years, said learning to paint and carve had tempered him. . . . He often donated his pieces to other prisoners with little monay so they could give them as gifts to family. (More)

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Charity art reflects life (sentence) for inmates
- Christchurch Press, 10 April 2007, page A2 (Extracts below)

Art by murders and other convicted villains will be on sale in a New Zealand-first auction at a Christchurch prison - but no one will be making a killing. A collection of work by prisoners from Canterbury's three prisons will be auctioned for charity. The project manager for the auction, Katey Gibling, said that to her knowledge it would be the first auction to be held in a prison.

The exhibition by 80 inmates raised prisoners' morale and included some high-quality work, she said. Some of the inmates exhibiting work would cut it with some of the best emerging artists in the art world. The exhibition included carvings, paintings done from a range of mediums, and weaving.

South Island regional manager for public prisons service, Paul Monk, said the exhibition would have a profound effect on inmates. "It can play an important role in helping prisoners express themselves and confront some of the reasons they commit crimes." The idea for the auction came from the Family Help Trust . . . which will get proceeds from the art sale.

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Deborah Coddington' column on John Key's Christchurch speech.
- New Zealand Herald, 5 February 2007 (Extracts below)

I don't care if anyone calls me a breathless cheerleader - I think John Key's speech was brilliant; inspirational. Just reading the text gave me goosebumps.

No policy? How about this: "Programmes like Project K, which gives 14- and 15-year-olds one-on-one mentoring to increase their confidence, and encourages them to fulfil their potential... like Big Buddy, which teams up fatherless boys to spend quality time with men from their community... Family Help Trust providing child-abuse-prevention services for ultra-risk families. A National government will get in behind these sorts of organisations ... we will team up with private and community groups to deliver better services to those in need."

Where's the money going to come from? Listen: "We are already spending millions of dollars for Wellington bureaucrats to write strategies and to dream up and run their own schemes. I want more of those dollars spent on programmes that work... I want to turbo-charge the efforts of private and community groups making a difference. I want to change the balance of spending between government and privately run groups." (More)

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Key strikes a chord over life's strugglers
By Audrey Young and Jarrod Booker
- New Zealand Herald, 30 January 2007 (Extracts below)

Community agencies that met National Party leader John Key on the eve of his first big speech have welcomed his intention to focus on the emerging underclass. They say they will watch with interest what he puts on the table today to back up his words.

Mr Key spent the day in Christchurch in the lead-up to his speech at .... Burnside High School. His day yesterday included a luncheon with the Christchurch City Mission and the Family Help Trust .... Mr Key told the trust he had come to learn about what the group was doing and to "get a sense" of the issues. In today's speech, he had chosen to focus on "what we see as an emerging underclass, and the real concern we have about that". "It's an issue all New Zealanders need to take ownership of," he said.

Family Help Trust director Libby Robbins told the Herald she was encouraged that Mr Key wanted to understand the issues facing those struggling in society. "He doesn't seem to be wanting to write them off. He doesn't seem to be saying they don't exist. He wants to understand ... what stops them succeeding in their lives. But politicians say a lot in opposition and the issue is whether they can actually deliver. The proof is in the pudding." (More)

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Plea to review aid for young
- Christchurch Press, 13 October 2006, page A8

Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft is urging a review of early intervention services for at-risk children as some service providers struggle for Government funding to keep operating. He says there is an "unarguable case" for early intervention, with mounting evidence proving it can save lives and money long-term. Many initiatives, run through local organisations, including Christchurch-based Family Help Trust, have struggled to get Government funding for programmes and rely on donations. The judge said New Zealanders had "talked the talk" for too long and the time had come for a review of service providers and a boost in funding. (More)

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Family agency cuts abuse cycle
- Christchurch Press, 10 October 2006, page A5

A study into the Christchurch-based Family Help Trust has found the agency has broken the cycle of violence in ultra-high-risk families by using early, home-based intervention. A year-long evaluation of the trust - one of just a few in New Zealand to work with high-risk families, in some cases before a child is born - showed family violence and parental behaviour improved under intense, long-term programmes.

Few choices for struggling family
- Christchurch Press, 10 October 2005, page A5

A short profile of Corrina Birchfield, one of our clients, whose life has been turned around by FHT services.