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Waimakariri District Council is a partner in the Violence Free North Canterbury Network. We provide coordination and support for this group.
Violence Free North Canterbury is a collaboration of agencies who aim to eradicate family violence in North Canterbury. It will do this by influencing positive social change within the community about family violence issues and empowering the community to send the message that family violence is unacceptable.
Violence Free North Canterbury was previously called North Canterbury Family Violence Network. It has been in existence since the mid-1990s. Meetings are held bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October and December on the third Thursday of the month.
There are three components to the family violence prevention project work:
- Raising community awareness of the issue and need for change
- Providing community education opportunities
- Increasing professional capability
- Together Hurunui
- Williams Mckenzie Lawyers
- Social Service Waimakariri
- Wellbeing North Canterbury
- Police
- Oranga Tamarirki
- Te Whare Hauora
- SHE (Support, Heal, Empower)
- Aviva
- Oxford Community Trust
- Presbyterian Support
- Ministry of Social Development
- Restorative Justice
- Barnardos
- Victim Support
- Maatawaka
- Hope Community Trust
- Corrections
- Ministry of Education
- START
- Stopping Violence Service
- Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust
- Coordination and support for the Violence Free North Canterbury Network
- Facilitation of White Ribbon Day initiatives at high schools, with local business and in local media
- Facilitation of Professional Development for people working in and with the community on how to recognise and respond appropriately where there is evidence of abuse
- Facilitation of Community Awareness raising around positive communication and what constitutes safe relationships
VFNC Community Quiz Night Fundraiser & Silent Auction, June 2024
The Network hosted a community awareness and fundraising Quiz Night & Silent Auction to share about the state of family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand and raise funds for the work of Violence Free North Canterbury. The night was a huge success, with 113 people attending and over $3000 raised.
Loves Me Not at Oxford Area School, September 2024
Violence Free North Canterbury partnered with Police and the Loves Me Not programme to deliver healthy relationship education to Year 12 & 13 students at Oxford Area School. Students engaged in conversations about recognising red flags in relationships, the importance of consent, and ways to stand up against violence.
Recognising and Responding to Family Violence with Oxford St. Johns and Fire Department, September 2024
Violence Free North Canterbury visited the Oxford St. Johns team and Fire Department to provide practical skills and knowledge around recognising and responding to family violence in homes in emergency situations. Providing free training for our community’s support organisations is a priority for the VFNC network and equipping them with the tools needed to recognise family violence and respond effectively is crucial. If you have a team interested in Recognise, Respond, and Refer training with the network, contact community@wmk.govt.nz
Recognising & Responding to Family Violence with Plunket, February 2024
Violence Free North Canterbury visited the North Canterbury Plunket team in February to provide practical skills and knowledge around recognising and responding to family violence in homes where a new baby has arrived. Every year, these nurses are invited into hundreds of homes to care for mums and their babies. For some families, these nurses may be the only support system they have. Providing free training for our community’s support organisations is a priority for the VFNC network and equipping them with the tools needed to recognise family violence and respond effectively is crucial. The Plunket team asked great questions throughout the session and commented how useful and relevant the training was for their day-to-day work.
If you would like to enquire about organising training for your organisation, contact Alyssa Bright (details below).
White Ribbon, November 2023
Every November, the Violence Free North Canterbury Network hosts a White Ribbon Campaign in our local high schools. White Ribbon Day, 25 November is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show they do not condone violence towards women.
This year, the campaign was supported by the White Ribbon Riders, who visit two schools in North Canterbury (Kaiapoi High School and Cheviot Area School). Supported by members of the Network, the Riders shared the message of White Ribbon.
The Network also hosted a series of community and professional development talks with Jeremy Eparaima and a Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser on the front lawn of Council.
Youth-Focused Professional Development Training, October 2023
The Violence Free North Canterbury Network hosted a Youth-Focused Training Day forviolence prevention and support organisations in November. The day included presentations from Jim Sole from BrainWave Trust, speaking on the Impact of Violence on the Adolescent Brain and Brett Harvey, from Tāima Kōrero, who spoke about the Harmful Impact of Pornography.
The day also highlighted some of the Waimakariri’s youth support organisations – Aviva, Youth Services, and the Waimakariri Youth Council.
Resources:
For further information contact:
Alyssa Bright
Phone: 0800 965 468
Email: alyssa.bright@wmk.govt.nz