HomeShare Hosts Needed!

HomeShare brings a small group of older people, who may be socially isolated, together in a HomeShare host’s private home for friendship, fun, laughter and a meal.

As a volunteer host, this is your chance to offer your time, home and hospitality to enable those connections to happen.

The difference you’ll be making in the lives of older people is significant and we’d love you to join our team!

You’ll receive full training and be supported by our HomeShare Coordinator.

We’re looking for hosts in Hurunui, Selwyn, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Christchurch.

Please contact: Kim Jackson

P. 027 413 2296 or 03 261 2880

E. kimj@psusi.org.nz www.psuppersouth.org.nz/enliven

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Canterbury would like to give a BIG shout out to the Kiwi Gaming Foundation for continuing to support its youth mentoring programme. Dedicated to making quality grants to local organisations that make a real difference in our community, the Foundation have provided funding to enable Mentoring Coordinators, Ellie and Olivia (pictured), to start 2023 with a bang, matching more tamariki in North Canterbury with positive role modelslike beautiful Zoe (pictured) who was matched with her Mentor Grace a few months ago.

We look forward to helping you in 2023 with free, confidential, independent information and advice about your rights and the services available in your community.

Services

At CAB North Canterbury, in addition to our face-to-face, phone and email services, we offer additional services for clients including:

• free Justice of the Peace service (please check for days/times)

• free Budgeting, Employment, Immigration and Legal clinics (please check for days/times)

• free CV preparation and cover letter service (by appointment only)

• one-to-one help with online forms and applications (by appointment only)

• a face-to-face settlement information service to newcomers to New Zealand.

Language Support

Citizens Advice has an internal Language Support service which means that CAB volunteers can check to see when other volunteers across the country are available to assist clients in another language.

Currently, we are able to support more than 30 different languages using this service. We also have access to a telephone and video interpreting service through Immigration New Zealand. This complements our own nationwide pool of volunteers who speak various languages.

General Support

If you or someone you know needs information, advice or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re here to help.

Our opening hours are 9.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

You’ll find us at 209 High Street, Rangiora, or you can phone us on 03 313 8822 or 0800 367 222, or send us an email northcanterbury@cab.org.nz

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, Rangiora Branch would like to wish you all a Happy New Year for 2023.

We hope people have had a chance to relax and unwind over the Christmas break and we look forward to meeting with many of you during 2023.

Our services are all back on board as of Monday 16 January 2023. Our day programme restarted on Wednesday 4 January and most staff on Monday 9 January.

You can find us at 258 High Street, Rangiora. For enquiries please phone 0800 447 874 or for more direct enquiries please phone Michelle for Family Works (children, youth and family services) on 03 261 2887, or for Enliven (Older Person’s Services) on 03 261 2890 Vicki Lucas.

War Memorial Hall

1 Albert Street, Rangiora 7400

PO Box 351, Rangiora 7440

Office Phone: 03 313 3505 servicemanager@bsnc.org.nz www.bsnc.org.nz

Benefit Entitlements – Talk to a Financial Mentor Today

Money Worries? We Can Help…

Here in New Zealand our Ministry of Social Development, through their Work and Income offices, are able to provide a range of support services, including financial assistance, to support a wide range of needs.

If you have money worries, bills you can’t pay, creditors keep phoning demanding payment – or maybe your situation has changed and you would like help to budget for your new circumstances; then contact Budgeting Services North Canterbury.

The types of things they can help with are: https://workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/index.html

The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act now requires lenders to implement more stringent lending criteria to ensure that borrowers have the funds to repay their loan.

• If you’re not working, have lost your job and/or need help to get a job.

• If you have urgent or unexpected bills, or maybe a family emergency.

• You need help with your living expenses.

• A range of services for Seniors.

• A range of services for Youth (16 to 19 year olds).

• Support with health and disability issues.

As a result, lenders are asking for much more detailed information concerning your financial situation. Our Financial Mentors can help you understand what this means for you, and help you get your paperwork in order.

Budgeting Services North Canterbury is a registered charity and has been working with families and whānau across the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts since 1980.

• Help for those caring for others.

• Help and support for those raising children.

• Help for those who’ve had a change in relationship status and need extra support.

• Other benefits and entitlements.

You’ll always work with a fully qualified Financial Mentor, who provides you with free and confidential advice to support you budget better.

The Work and Income website offers a lot of information on how to access help, including what support you can receive, as well as all the forms you might need to fillin.

As lenders will investigate your previous three months’ worth of transactions, through your bank accounts, it is best to come to us well before that so that we can discuss how your spending habits might influence the lender’s decision.

We also offer community education via MoneyMates, where people can talk, share and learn about money.

We provide advocacy services to help negotiate fairer repayment options with creditors. Whether it’s a government department, a bank, or a financial institution, we can advocate on your behalf.

However, you might be finding the website difficult to navigate, or you’re not sure if you are able to access support at all. You can talk to the great people at Work and Income, and they are only too happy to help. However, if you want to talk to a Financial Mentor first (it’s free and confidential), we can discuss your particular situation and support you with your conversations with Work and Income.

Sharon Grant, Service Manager of BSNC says: “It’s a real privilege to be able to support families to improve their financial wellbeing. We have received wonderful feedback from people delighted to finally repay long-term debts and who are now able to save for the first time in their lives. Talk to us about your situation, we’d be glad to help you to budget better.”

In some cases we can even accompany you to Work and Income appointments. Or we can work with you on-line using your own MyMSD Log-in to help you navigate the large amount of information available, and help with filling-in forms.

If you need help with insolvency documents or want to understand your consumer rights, our team of Financial Mentors have the expertise to help you improve your situation.

Phone or email to talk about your situation: 03 315 3505 or email: servicemanager@bsnc.org.nz

Our Financial Mentors are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help. They understand the Work and Income system – and what they don’t know they will certainly find out for you.

We’re on Facebook and bsnc.org.nz

Our office is in the War Memorial Hall, 1 Albert Street, Rangiora.

So, if you’d like some support to find out what benefits or extra support you can access, contact us to talk to a Financial Mentor today.