The Blanket Bank is a project of giving and receiving, providing free blankets and bedding for individuals and whānau. Many homes in Ōtautahi are still insufficiently insulated and the costs of heating and bedding are hard for many whānau to manage. We are committed to supporting anyone who can benefit from receiving a package from the Blanket Bank - the only criteria for accessing the service is a need for warm bedding.
You can play an important part in this community initiative as we rely on donations from the general public to maintain stock levels of blankets and bedding!
Confident Children, Flourishing Families is a unique CMM programme offered to address distress and behavioural issues affecting children in Canterbury. Since early 2019, the child mental health programme has worked with about 250 tamariki and parents in a combination of individual or group work to tackle anxiety and emotional distress. Tamariki report feeling less anxious and are more able to cope with their emotions, and parents feel better equipped to support their tamariki. CMM is grateful for the support of the Tindall Foundation for funding this programme.
What family doesn't find it tough financially from time to time? For a large number of whānau in Canterbury, life on a financial knife-edge is the norm, making it impossible to meet exceptional costs, such as new school uniforms and the unexpected bills. The CMM Family Support Fund eases the burden on those families in their times of greatest need.
A problem shared is a problem halved and many CMM clients benefit from talking through issues with a trained facilitator in a group setting. Group programmes reflect our commitment to helping people build resilience and creating a better life for themselves and their family. Our quality courses have been refined over the years to deliver results. All are free to participants and each runs for up to two hours a week over a set number of weeks.
- Wise-Up supports children aged 8-10 years in in their efforts to explore new and different ways of dealing with feelings and emotions and discover their personal strengths
- ACES supports children aged 7-11 years to share experiences and explore new ways to cope with the separation of their parents
- ParentWorks is for parents who have a child or children aged up to 13 in the care of Oranga Tamariki or who acknowledge they have care and protection concerns
- Building Awesome Whānau draws on the wisdom of mātauranga Māori to offer families a kaupapa that is unique to Aotearoa
- Woman Wise helps women look ahead and develop the self-confidence to be all they can be
- Men on a Mission helps men develop strengths and skills, discuss life issues and overcome isolation
This is undoubtedly one of our favourite initiatives. Each year we invite individuals, churches, businesses and other organisations to put together a Christmas hamper for a family in need. Some very creative and generous gifts are presented! On a set day just before Christmas, the hampers are delivered before the beneficiary families collect them that afternoon. The families appreciate the fact the hampers enable them to celebrate Christmas in their own homes, in their own way. Keep an eye out for our Support a Family flyer from late spring to see if you could help.
