Long boring afternoons have become a bit brighter for 95-year old Joan Sloman. Joan is part of a new initiative by Presbyterian Support Northern which aims to connect older people with a younger generation.

An agreement signed between the Ministry of Social Development and Presbyterian Support New Zealand today focuses on delivering the best results for children and families in need of support.

A new research centre that works with the social service and wider not-for-profit sector to help answer the question ‘what difference are we making?’ is being launched on Thursday 11 March.

For young parents, Lance and Linda, The Incredible Years programme was one of the first steps in creating a positive home environment where they could bring their family together again.

Christmas will be a little less bleak for some families thanks to the efforts of young St Cuthbert’s College students.

Smashing a plate on which was written the bottled-up thoughts, feelings and emotions about the abuse she had suffered brought Lily Young* a great sense of peace. The plate-smashing technique is one used by women as part of Family Works Northern’s Women Against Violence (WAVE) programme as a way of letting go of the hurt and pain they have experienced from abusive relationships.

The rainy day didn’t deter hundreds of St Cuthbert’s College students from dropping off food items to support the Foodbank run by Presbyterian Support Northern.

Presbyterian Support Northern is 125 years old this year! It all began with Duncan Macpherson who was appointed the first Auckland City Missioner in 1884.

A special service to remember the victims of child abuse and to support those who work in healing and protection capacities is being held this Sunday 9 August at St Matthew-in-the-City at 1pm.

Voluntarily donating his time to be an Enliven Befriender, Erwin De Raad says that he gets just as much enjoyment from spending time with his friends as they do.

Lorraine Florian keeps a jar of buttons on her desk. Believe it or not, they’re an essential part of her job as a social worker for nearly 800 students at One Tree Hill College.

At the age of 81, you’d think Val Gibbons would be on the receiving end of a number of programmes provided for older people. Instead, she volunteers every second Friday as a helper at Enliven’s Pohutakawa Day Programme in Whakatane, and has been doing so for the last 16 years.

Hamilton’s Enliven Day Programme premises have received a boost with the installation of a brand new shade covering for the outdoor area.

After nearly 13 years of faithful service to the Presbyterian Opportunity Shop in Hamilton, manager John Barwick is being farewelled.

Every day in New Zealand children’s voices are being ignored, not taken seriously and are not being heard by those who should be listening.

While demand for food parcels from the Presbyterian Support Northern’s (PSN) Foodbank steadily increase, donations and funding streams are dwindling.

Enliven’s Befriending service celebrated the International Day of the Volunteer by holding a bbq to thank all their volunteers for their hard work and dedication over the year. The International Day of the Volunteer was held on the 5^th of December, 2008.

Family Works Northern is speaking out against family violence in support of White Ribbon Day and as part of their dedication to eliminate family violence in New Zealand.

Presbyterian Support Northern, together with the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, is delivering a seminar on child abuse to look at the issue from a personal, policy and practice perspective.

Enliven Key Support worker Sheryl Tetai was yesterday recognised as the country's 1,000 graduate in the National Certificate in Foundations Skills. She was joined at the graduation ceremony by 89 other Enliven Key support workers who were also graduating in the National Certificate.

Just back from an international conference, Janice Hyde, Service Manager with Family Works in Tauranga, was pleased to discover that her service is a world leader in using the Signs of Safety system to work with families to keep kids safe.

Social Workers are important to New Zealand community and family well being. Commenting in support of Social Workers Day, 24 September 2008, Presbyterian Support Northern’s Community Facilitator Bonnie Robinson noted that Social Workers provided vital skills that helped families and communities.

The Government funding package for community social service providers announced yesterday will allow Presbyterian Support Northern to better meet the needs of families and communities.

Saint Kentigern School children and their families recently made a generous donation to support a special outdoor activity-based therapeutic programme for young people developed and delivered by Family Works Northern, the child and family services division of Presbyterian Support Northern.