UC Connect 1 2014

Vol. 2 Issue 1 2014

THE MAGAZINE OF UNITING COMMUNITIESUCONNECT

FESTIVITIES AT EASTERN SERVICES

SUCCESS FOR FAMILY BY FAMILY

ROAD TRIP TO RUBYS

CONTENTS

2. EASTERN SERVICES SHARES CHRISTMAS CHEER

3. THE CALL TO COMPASSION

3. PUTTING FAITH INTO ACTION

4. TIDINGS OF HOPE AND GOODWILL

5. SPEAKING UP FOR CHANGE

6. THE STORY OF OUR YEAR

7. INNOVATIVE PROGRAM UP FOR INTERNATIONAL PRIZE

8. CONNECTING THROUGH RUBYS

UCONNECTPublished by Uniting CommunitiesWritten and edited by Maureen McKinnie & Jane Batchelor Uniting Communities,10 Pitt St, Adelaide SA 5000Ph: (08) 8202 5111

Email: [email protected]

Uniting Communities is an agency of the Uniting Church in Australia

Front: Felix Winderlich cools down at the Eastern Services Christmas party at the Clayton Wesley Church.

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Welcome to the first edition of UConnect for 2014. We hope that you and those close to you have enjoyed a happy and peaceful start to the new year.

Here at Uniting Communities, we’re looking forward to a busy but fulfilling 2014, during which time we will strive to realise our vision of a compassionate, respectful and just community.

In this UConnect, we take a closer look at some of the work we’re doing across the organisation with families in need. From sharing food hampers and toys at our Eastern Services Christmas party to reunifying families through the unique Rubys program, we are committed to helping families

realise their strengths and potential, both as individuals and as a unit.

We also celebrate the Family by Family program in this edition, which has been nominated for the international World Design Impact prize. This pioneering South Australian program is run by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, in partnership with Uniting Communities. It connects families who have experienced difficult times with other families looking to make positive changes.

Our current Appeal is also focused on strengthening families. Uniting Communities works alongside families in crisis to provide them with the help, tools and resources to turn their lives around. This year alone, we

assisted thousands of people trying to overcome a range of challenges including relationship issues, addiction, crisis and disadvantage.

And, of course, it’s thanks to your spirit of goodwill that we are able to do any of this. Together, we’re making a difference to the lives of many South Australian families and individuals. We are grateful for your generosity and hope for your continued support as we strive to build stronger families and, in turn, stronger communities.

SIMON SCHRAPELChief Executive

‘THIS YEAR ALONE, WE ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO OVERCOME A RANGE OF CHALLENGES INCLUDING RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, ADDICTION, CRISIS AND DISADVANTAGE.’

STRONGER FAMILIES, STRONGER COMMUNITIES

For some of the people we work with, Christmas can be a time of anxiety as they struggle to find the money to put together a special meal or buy a gift for loved ones.

Our Eastern Services team and the Uniting Church offered some relief from this stress late last year, hosting a Christmas Party at the Clayton Wesley Church at Beulah Park.

Around 250 people braved a warm day to collect a food hamper and share in the festive spirit. The crowd was treated to a free sausage sizzle, petting zoo, face painting, live music, a jumping castle, and donuts, fairy floss, ice blocks and drinks.

EASTERN SERVICES SHARES CHRISTMAS CHEER

Through the generosity of members of the community and community groups, goods were donated for some 160 hampers, along with a range of toys for the children.

For Gary and his family, the support came just at the right time and was gratefully received.

‘I’m currently jobless and, because I have a big family, we’re really struggling,’ he said. ‘I have no money to buy Christmas gifts for the children or to prepare.’

Gary learned about the Christmas party through a friend, who advised him to contact Uniting Communities for food assistance and support.

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‘My wife and I were so happy to find out that this event was happening. My children are excited that they could choose a gift.

‘We came on two buses from the other side of town to be here. It was worth it to see my family so happy.’

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On Sunday 15 December, Uniting Communities and the Uniting Church of SA launched the ‘Jesus was a refugee’ campaign at the Clayton Wesley Uniting Church in Beulah Park. The event attracted people from around the state wishing to stand in solidarity with others for the compassionate treatment of those seeking asylum.Attendees were invited to tie a blue ribbon to the church fence to

THE CALL TO COMPASSION

show their commitment to working together for a more compassionate, just and welcoming community.Uniting Communities Chief Executive, Simon Schrapel, and Uniting Church Moderator, Dr Deidre Palmer, were two of the key speakers at the event. ‘God in Jesus was a refugee – fleeing a situation where, as a child, he was in great danger of being killed,’ said Deidre. ‘His parents left their home country and fled into the unknown,

because of their deep love for Jesus and their commitment to protecting him.

‘This campaign is grounded in the call to compassion.’

Since the launch, numerous other church and community groups, including the Belair and Seacliff Uniting Churches, have created public spaces for ribbon tying.

The broader aim of the campaign is to encourage the wider community to recognise and understand that people seeking asylum are just like everyone else; aspiring to the best possible life for themselves and their families.

‘Church communities and agencies like Uniting Communities have a special role to play in reaching out to those who face persecution or rejection by providing a message of hope,’ says Simon. ‘Through the simple act of tying a blue ribbon to the church fence, we are offering all South Australians the chance to also demonstrate their concern.’

In late February, Peter Kenyon returns to our Putting Faith into Action program, offering a beginners workshop on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).

The full-day workshop will describe ABCD and give an insight into the wide variety of ways communities and churches have drawn on its principles.

Peter will give examples of congregations who have used ABCD within their community, and provide a range of print and internet resources. Attendees will also

receive a certificate from the ABCD Institute.

Peter is founder and Director of Bank of I.D.E.A.S., an organisation devoted to the development of healthy, inclusive, sustainable and enterprising communities and local economies. Over the last 20 years, he has worked with more than 1500 communities

throughout Australia and overseas looking at fresh and creative ways to encourage community and economic renewal. The Putting Faith into Action program first hosted Peter at our inaugural event in 2011.For further information please contact [email protected]

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At Uniting Communities, we have been touched by your kind response to our 2013 Christmas Appeal. Not only have you, our loyal supporters, demonstrated the spirit of giving through your donations; you have also shared your messages of hope and goodwill with families in need.

Here is just a small selection of your kind and supportive words:

To Streetlink,Know that there is always someone who cares. Peace, light and prayers, Mary

To Eastern Services,Best wishes for the Christmas season & New Year. From Cynthia

To Lifeline,We know Christmas is such a busy time for counsellors and we do thank you all for your time and commitment.From Judy & Lawrie

To Rubys,Best wishes to you all.From Jennifer & Don

Merry Christmas! To let you know that a lot of people in Australia and Adelaide care about you all.From Nina

To Uniting Communities – all your services are worthwhile. A wish for hope, health and peace.From the Neilson family

TIDINGS OF HOPE AND GOODWILL

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SPEAKING UP FOR CHANGE Advocacy is just one of the ways we work with and for the community. Working with people who have the power and resources to effect change allows us to challenge and improve existing systems, especially for those members of society who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.

SA election

As we enter a state election year, Uniting Communities has been considering some of the issues that lie at the heart of a fairer and more inclusive South Australia.

The problem that we hear about from our clients, across a wide range of services, is overwhelmingly about cost-of-living pressures: affordability of housing, energy, health and, more recently, water.

We believe the three priorities for the next SA Government to act upon are:

• housing affordability• utilities affordability

• justice affordability and access.

Uniting Communities recognises that there also are many aspects to South Australia’s future development

that require collaboration with the Commonwealth and shared leadership with business and local communities.

We believe that these issues are within the scope of the state government’s influence. The overarching challenge is to ease these burdens – particularly for our most vulnerable citizens – to enable all people to be able to more fully participate in economic and community activity.

More than cars

Premier Jay Weatherill visited our Pitt Street offices in early December, sharing ideas around the ‘More than Cars’ campaign on maintaining a viable car industry in South Australia and Australia.

In light of General Motors Holden’s recent decision to cease manufacturing in Australia, up to 13,000 people in South Australia are facing unemployment throughout the car manufacturing industry and its supply chain. Nationally, tens of thousands of jobs are at risk.

Uniting Communities is a signatory to the campaign and has welcomed the

Premier’s plan for jobs to help South Australians who will be affected by the closure in 2017.

The plan recognises the impact of Holden’s decision, as well as the vulnerability of Adelaide’s northern suburbs and those areas across Adelaide where component manufacturers are located. The plan also outlines infrastructure projects which will benefit the entire state.

Chief Executive, Simon Schrapel, says that Uniting Communities is committed to standing behind the people who will be hardest hit.

‘All affected workers, not just workers at Holden, could access the proposed wrap-around support services community organisations offer,’ he says. ‘This includes emotional and financial counselling, emergency assistance and parenting programs, integrated with retraining and job search.’

GOODWILL

It’s summertime at Goodwill – time to look good, feel good and do good by visiting one of our eight stores across Adelaide.Discover our quality range of new and pre-loved fashion, luggage and footwear. You can choose from a range of affordablegifts, from toys to summer-wear and other treasures. And every time you shop with or donate to Goodwill, you are helping to support Lifeline Adelaide. To find a store near you visit www.unitingcommunities.orgGoodwill is a service of Uniting Communities.

Telephone 8202 5070www.unitingcommunities.org

Adelaide - Blackwood - Brooklyn Park - Dry Creek - Elizabeth Park - Holden Hill - Mt. Barker - Salisbury

Looking GOOD. Feeling GOOD. Doing GOOD.

GOODWILL





GOODWILL





It’s summertime at Goodwill — time to look good, feel good and do good by visiting one of our eight stores across Adelaide. Discover our quality range of new and pre-loved fashion, luggage and footwear. You can choose from a range of affordable gifts, from toys to summer-wear and other treasures. And every time you shop with or donate to Goodwill, you are helping to support Lifeline Adelaide. To find a store near you visit www.unitingcommunities.org



THE STORY OF OUR YEARUniting Communities’ Annual Report for 2012–13 is now out, capturing the stories of the people we work alongside as we strive for a compassionate, respectful and just community.

Focusing on the theme ‘community is at the centre of all we do’, the Report looks at how we are transforming our services to incorporate the important role that communities play in solving complex social problems.

Placing the community at the heart of our approach allows the people we work with the chance to be involved in shaping the services they require.

To read the Report, visit www.unitingcommunities.org/governance and click on the link underneath the main heading. If you would like us to send you a hard copy, please email your contact details to [email protected] or call 08 8202 5110.

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The highly successful Family by Family program, run by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) in partnership with Uniting Communities, has been nominated for the World Design Impact prize.

Awarded every two years, the prize recognises initiatives from around the world that push the boundaries of design – particularly industrial design – by incorporating human-centred research, design thinking and co-design. The TACSI program was developed using a co-design model, in which end-users were empowered, encouraged and guided as they helped develop the program and its outcomes.

Family by Family connects families with other families looking to make changes to their lives. Families who have been through tough times – and come through stronger for the experience – are trained and linked with a family who want some help making changes for themselves. Through spending time with people who have ‘been there, done that’, families experience other ways of ‘doing’ family, learn new strategies and skills, and gain a sense of hope and motivation.

Initially, the aim was to enable more families to thrive and reduce their need to use crisis services. While Family by Family seems to be achieving this, it is also proving valuable in ways that weren’t originally expected.

For example, migrant and refugee groups who may not be in contact with traditional support services are becoming involved with the program as a way to get to know Australia and build neighbourhood networks. Also, for many of the families sharing their experiences, Family by Family has served as a way back into further education or employment.

Family by Family was designed in South Australia, with the input of more than 100 families from around the Marion area. It now operates throughout the Marion and Playford councils, and in Mount Druitt in New South Wales, with plans to extend to other parts of Australia in the near future.

The World Design Impact Prize will be awarded at the end of February.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAM UP FOR INTERNATIONAL PRIZE

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CONNECTING THROUGH RUBYS Young people from Rubys Enfield had a chance to experience the country life when they visited Mt Gambier for a week in September 2013.

They took part in a range of activities, including a visit to seal colonies around the area and a trip across the border to Nelson. Picnic lunches were also organised to offer young people the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Rubys is a unique program designed to reunite families going through problems which, if left unresolved, may place the young person at risk of homelessness. Young participants spend some nights at home and some at a Rubys residence, which are located across Adelaide and regional South Australia. Residences maintain a home environment that is as close as possible to the family’s, so parents and caregivers can actively participate in certain aspects of the program.

For one young man new to the program, spending a week away with his peers offered the chance to build a strong rapport with them and better fit into the dynamic of the house upon returning to Adelaide.

Another participant enjoyed herself so much that she designed a report about her visit.

‘I loved everything about Mt Gambier,’ she says. ‘The staff were really nice and understanding, and I appreciated being able to have the experience. It was interesting and educational.’

In 2012–13, more than 350 people – including young people, their siblings and their parents/caregivers – accessed the Rubys program, across sites in Adelaide and regional South Australia, to help resolve family conflict or access emergency accommodation.

Although the Christmas celebrations are over, for many families the need for support will continue into the new year and beyond.

This is why your help is so vital for our family support services.

We work alongside families in crisis to provide financial guidance and emergency assistance, as well as vital counselling, medical and housing services.

Without this support, families, young people and children can be at greater risk of problems like relationship break-down, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental illness, homelessness and severe financial difficulty.

Your gift will help to support services like:

• Rubys, helping young people to reunite with their families

• Streetlink, assisting youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness

• Eastern Services, providing families with emergency assistance and financial counselling

• Lifeline, supporting families and young people in crisis

• Family relationship counselling, offering support as families resolve conflict.

You can make your tax-deductible donation now by completing the donation form below and returning it in the reply-paid envelope enclosed. Or, you can donate online at www.unitingcommunities.org or phone 08 8202 5110.

Thank you for your support. With your kind generosity, we can continue to improve the lives of South Australian families.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL UPDATE

Yes. I want to help South Australian families.Please find enclosed my donation of(PLEASE TICK):

$50 $100 $200 $500 My choice $

Enclosed is my cheque/money order made payable to Uniting Communities

Or charge my Visa MastercardCard number / / /Expiry Date /Name on CardSignature

Your receipt will be sent to:Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss

Name

Phone

Address

Postcode

Email

Would you like to receive information regarding our Bequest program?

PLEASE RETURN THIS COUPON AND YOUR DONATION TOUniting CommunitiesGPO Box 2534 Adelaide SA 5001Donations over $2 are tax deductibleYour privacy is our priority. We collect information necessary to process your donations & send you a receipt. We may occasionally send information about Uniting Communities news & services. If you would rather not receive this information please contact 08 8202 5110.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

10 Pitt St, Adelaide SA 5000 | GPO Box 2534, Adelaide SA 5001Ph 08 8202 5111 | Fax 08 8211 8041

www.unitingcommunities.org | www.facebook.com/UnitingCommunitiesOzAn agency of the Uniting Church in Australia

UC Connect 1 2014

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