Not-for Profit Support for Families

Bev from Woolston

Woolston Development Project was established 31 years ago providing support for children in Woolston and surrounding areas within Christchurch. Since then our services have increased to include a free, home-based family support service, a weekly women's social support group, a youth volunteer programme supporting high school school students to gain work skills, subsidised family recreation events and after school and holiday care for primary age children. Within our After School Programme we also have a group providing specific age-related activities for 10-13 year olds, part of this has a focus on 'giving back to their community, where they have baked and delivered muffins to the homeless during winter, sold their baking to purchase new books, specific to their age group, for the community library, tidied community gardens, helped pack the grocery bags at the local food bank and collected food and blankets for Dog Watch.
Our aim is to provide opportunities for all children, youth, women and families within our community to develop to their full potential.
Only our childcare programmes are income generating and we keep our fees to a minimum to benefit the low socio-economic status of our community. This income provides quality staff, resources and food for the children and when possible contributes to the running costs of our building e.g heating costs. All our other services are dependant on grants and donations to ensure that we are able to continue to support those most in need within our Woolston and the neighbouring communities. It is becoming increasingly stressful in recent times of decreasing funding vs increasing need for specific, practical support.
It would be very much appreciated if Neighbourly communities could acknowledge the work we are doing to benefit our local families now and to provide the skills and knowledge for the families to pass on to future generations of families.

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