News » Presbyterian Support Otago

Presbyterian Support Otago farewells Chief Executive

Today Gillian Bremner has announced her intention to retire, with effect from early next year. It has been more than 23 years since Presbyterian Support Otago has farewelled a Chief Executive.

Bev’s a ‘Good Sort’

New Zealanders are known to be great volunteers but few would spend over 10 hours a week, on average, like Bev Chatwin does in Wanaka.

On a Path to Purpose: A Can’s Perspective

My body forms; what was once shapeless silver is now unyielding metal. A cold, hard shell; a container for precious cargo that I shall receive.

Volunteering brings five years of new friendships

John Meek has been involved as a volunteer with our Enliven services in Alexandra for five years.

Community generosity warms our hearts at Octacan 2017

The Octacan collection for Presbyterian Support Otago’s Family Works foodbank has been a fantastic success.

Building great relationships with elderly

Marian Ross is a Club Enliven volunteer who takes pride in involving herself in the elderly community.

Buddy enjoys mentoring 7-year-old

Among the many valuable initiatives that Family Works offers the Buddy Programme is special, as it provides adult mentors for children who need additional support.

PSO volunteers contribute over 36,000 hours to Otago communities

Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) relies on the generous support of over 600 volunteers throughout the Otago area, to deliver more than twenty community programmes to almost 10,000 people.

Giving to Presbyterian Support for 30 years

It’s National Volunteer Week and like many organisations Presbyterian Support Otago has always been well supported by volunteers. In fact, almost half of our people are volunteers.

You CAN support Octacan

The annual Octacan collection, in support of Presbyterian Support Otago’s foodbank, is happening on Thursday 22 June.

Requests for help rise, as tempratures drop

With your support, we can limit the effects of winter for many Otago families.

Steampunk celebrated at Shop on Carroll

Anyone who visited Shop on Carroll in May would have found themselves immersed in the extraordinary world of steampunk.

Playgroup with a twist

An unusual Oamaru playgroup celebrated its 23rd birthday in April, with people of all ages on hand to mark the occasion.

Spectacular views enjoyed in Taieri Gorge

The sun was shining, the views were incredible, and people went home very happy!

Representing Dunedin at the National Community Awards

Presbyterian Support Otago was the Dunedin representative at the Trustpower National Community Awards, held in Rotorua in March.

Countdown to Octacan

We only have a few short weeks until the annual Octacan collection in Dunedin’s Octagon on Thursday 22 June.

Footpath puts brakes on residents

Natalie Hill loves her life at Holmdene Enliven care home in Balclutha.

Igniting a spark of life

We asked for your support to introduce Spark of Life to our Enliven care homes in the last edition of People. We are making great progress…

Foodbank donation leads to work experience

Otago Girls’ High School Year 12 student, Tamsyn Lawrence, wasn’t in the classroom for the first week of April.

Supporting people through the winter months

As the winter months arrive, the number of people who look to us for help increases dramatically across all of our services.

Presbyterian Support’s service, Enliven, most trusted Aged Care provider

Presbyterian Support (Enliven) has been named New Zealand’s Most Trusted Aged Care and Retirement Villages Brand.

Filling our foodbank

Thursday 22 June, 7:30am - 2:30pm

Four new residents welcomed into expanded Ranui Court Retirement Village

Four Alexandra residents are very excited to have a change of address this month, when they move into four new units that have opened at Ranui Court Retirement Village in...

Shop on Carroll celebrating steampunk

Step into Shop on Carroll between 8 – 20 May and you’ll find yourself immersed in the extraordinary world of steampunk.

Knitting keeps Noelene busy

St Andrews care home (Dunedin) resident Noelene Perkins spends time each day relaxing in her sunny room with knitting needles in hand.

Knitted toys are made with love

Marie Myhill has called St Andrews care home in Dunedin her home for the last eighteen months. Since moving in she has fallen back in love with old hobby, knitting.

Aged care provider Enliven says pay equity a game changer

MEDIA STATEMENT

Winning volunteers at Presbyterian Support Otago

Presbyterian Support Otago was thrilled to participate in the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards, held at Rotorua Lakes over the weekend.

Dementia increase sparks action

Right now, two out of three people in New Zealand are affected in some way by dementia.

Community Generosity Shines at Christmas

In the last three months we’ve had Christmas, summer holidays and back to school for 2017.

Student gives us a lesson

St Hilda student Mille Dickson (pictured with social worker Nick Callaghan) stopped in at Family Works in January with a very generous donation.

YouthGrow impresses local MP

Dunedin North MP David Clark spent a Friday morning at YouthGrow and was very impressed with what he found. David writes…

Carolyn is ready to chat

New year, new face! We are very pleased to introduce Carolyn Sims as Presbyterian Support Otago’s new Supporter Liaison.

Bowling them over in Oamaru

Every Monday afternoon the Iona Chapel, Iona care home Oamaru, is full of noise. It’s the sound of 30 plus Iona residents enjoying a friendly round of indoor bowls with...

Step back in time for Vintage Month

Are you, or is someone you know, an avid vintage shopper? For the month of March we transform Shop on Carroll into a 1930s vintage store.

Helping each other, learning together

As children head back to school for 2017 we’re opening the doors to begin a number of Presbyterian Support Family Works programmes that will run for this year.

The Linen Lady makes her mark

In just four short years the generosity of one lady and her TradeMe account has meant our Family Works food bank has received just shy of $23,000.

Books to brighten a day

On a Wednesday afternoon Miriam Vollweiler finishes work early. It’s not so that she can head home to put her feet up. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

A little time makes a big difference

Meet Georgia Crutchley. Georgia lives in Balclutha and has volunteered as an Adult Buddy with the Family Works Buddy Programme for the last six months.

Get your tickets for the Taieri Gorge Rail Walk - Sunday 7th May 2017

Our Family Works Youth Buddy Programme is thrilled to be named as the recipient for the Taieri Gorge Rail Walk 2017. Tickets are $59 per person and must be booked prior to the day.

Merry Christmas from Presbyterian Support Otago

It's been a busy, fulfilling and inspiring year for Presbyterian Support Otago staff and volunteers.

Managing your money over Christmas

The holiday period can be a great family time, but it can be very stressful. The pressure of Christmas gift spending and the stress of entertaining others with activities and...

Countdown to Christmas

Every family looks forward to Christmas. It is a time of joy, togetherness and celebration.

Are you a little bit good?

Thank you to everyone who signs up as a Family Works Guardian Angel this Christmas. You’re helping us to support Otago’s children and families in need to make lasting change...

Let’s Pack the bus together

Huge thanks to The Breeze Dunedin who are partnering with us in the lead up to Christmas with the fantastic Pack The Bus initiative!

Blooming success at YouthGrow

YouthGrow is one of Family Works’ most successful programmes. It is a holistic training programme operating within a working nursery and aims to equip young people with ‘life ready –...

New Financial Capability training service

Presbyterian Support Otago’s Family Works service was recently awarded a government contract to provide budgeting and financial literacy training at locations across Otago.

Aspiring Enliven Care Centre Opens

On 3 October, our newest care home’s residents moved in. Slowly at first, new residents began to arrive.

The year in review

On 25 October, Presbyterian Support Otago held our 110th Annual General Meeting.

Give a gift for Otago's future

Presbyterian Support has worked side by side with Otago’s residents for 110 years. Together we’ve done some great work and helped a lot of people.

Ross Home National Finalist - 2016 Excellence in Care Awards

On Wednesday 4 October, Ross Home received the National Finalist Award, Community Connections category, at the New Zealand Aged Care Association’s Excellence in Care Awards in Auckland.

Volunteers love to volunteer

Over 600 volunteers give their time regularly to Presbyterian Support Otago, clocking up an impressive 36,420 hours over the last 12 months. Why do they do it? Two of our volunteers explain.

PSO AGM 2016

All are invited to join staff, volunteers, donors and friends to our organisation's annual general meeting.

Taieri Court one of the best

Providing premium quality care and professional services to residents has earned Taieri Court top certification status from the Ministry of Health.

Be a little bit good

For just $1 a day be a Family Works Guardian Angel and give lasting help to Otago's children and families in need.

Your donation makes a difference

The opening statement of the First Annual Report of the Presbyterian Social Service Association (now Presbyterian Support Otago), for the year ending September 30, 1907 reads:

Instant hit

You know you’re on the right track when eight months after opening, your shelves are bulging and customers are beating a path to your door.

Life goes on

People told her that the old women would quarrel together, but ‘the experiment had been tried in a small way and this had not been the case.

Volunteers at our very foundation

From the day Presbyterian Social Services Association (PSSA) was founded in September 1906 volunteers have been an intrinsic part of our service.

Foodbank: Taking care of the basics

Hares, eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables were donated to our children’s homes in Dunedin from the day they opened.

110 years of care for Otago's children & families in need

Presbyterian Support has been supporting Otago’s children and families since 1906. Whilst our approach has changed over time, our motivation has not.

OCTACAN 2016 breaks record

What a wonderful day it was! On 23 June we held our 8th Octacan event in Dunedin. The Octagon in the centre of town was taken over by thousands of...

Aspiring Enliven jobs seminar success

Five seminars in Wanaka and Cromwell attracted around 140 people interested in working at Aspiring Enliven Care Centre when it opens in October this year.

New buddies

Watching the joy her daughter gained from being an Adult Buddy while a student at the University of Otago several years ago, persuaded Wanaka resident, Linda, to join the Buddy...

Building life skills

Understanding that no matter what your income, there are priorities you need to make if you are to avoid costly consequences. This is one of the more important lessons in...

Not alone in Alexandra

Living alone can offer independence. Living alone, for some older people, can also lead to isolation and loneliness.

Sharing good times

To meet this South Dunedin pair one would think they have been mates from way back.

Homeless in Otago

Homelessness: having no other options to acquire safe, secure housing. And it’s happening right here in Otago.

Stepping stones

“Walking into Stepping Stones for the first time I had no idea what to expect or what I wanted to achieve. I just knew that I had to do something.”

Octacan 2016

Thursday 23 June, 7:30am - 2:30pm

Where there's a will there's a way

…and it seems there’s always been a Will.

TGRW2016

What a great day it was! More than 460 people enjoyed the rare opportunity to walk the Taieri Gorge rail line.

Our volunteers are winners!

Presbyterian Support Otago won the supreme award at the 2016 Trustpower Dunedin Community Awards, 27 April.

Giving feels good

You know that because you give to Presbyterian Support Otago.

Holmdene Certification

Holmdene in Balclutha has received its second much-prized four year certification from the Ministry of Health. This again puts it in the top 10% of New Zealand care homes. Congratulations...

Oamaru's new starts

New starts in life are meant to be positive moves, but for many Family Works’ clients in North Otago that is not the case.

Forever Buddies

“Bayli will always be my buddy, even when he’s 30 years old,” says Adrienne. Bayli smiles.

Buddy Programme impresses

As they say, the proof is in the pudding, and that’s certainly the case in the Buddy Programme evaluation report released prior to Christmas.

Enliven

Presbyterian Support Otago has re-named our services for older people “Enliven”. Our community-based, retirement and residential aged care services now fall under this new national brand.

Head in hands

Cathy’s stomach does a nervous flip when she reads her son’s school stationery list. She then looks at her daughter’s college list, and puts her head in her hands in despair.

Where there's a will there's a way

The abundance of natural light, spacious rooms and ensuites, soothing décor and an easy indoor-outdoor flow from almost every room has residents likening the Kirkness Unit at Iona care home,...

Starting over

Family Works staff support women released from New Zealand prisons to settle back into the community. For the Otago region, Christchurch Women’s is the predominant release prison, but there are...

Success engaging young adults

It’s not easy engaging with young adults who find traditional schooling too hard to deal with.

Care Centre to open in October

Progress on Aspiring Enliven Care Centre adjacent to the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre is on schedule to receive its first residents in early October.

Locals opting for a taste of home

Dunedin TV popped out to Taieri Court this week to talk with Manager Mary McKay and Presbyterian Support Otago CE Gillian Bremner about how locally supplied Meals on Wheels are prepared.

YouthGrow brings lasting success

Success comes in many guises. The first step towards success for YouthGrow students is finding a place where they fit in, and can thrive.

Maybank Men

Name fifty different models of car.

Painting Joy

For Joy St George, resident of St Andrews care home Dunedin, Wednesdays were just another day. Then, John Schofield entered her life and Wednesdays have never been the same since.

Young people with heart

“It was amazing how quickly he understood that some children don’t have food on the table or in a lunchbox like he does,” said Dana.

Sharing Christmas joy

At Presbyterian Support we look forward to sharing Christmas joy with many families and older people in Otago.

Where there’s a will there’s a way

Including a charity in your will provides an opportunity to continue to support the organisations you have supported in your lifetime.

People helping people

On 28 October 2015, Presbyterian Support Otago held our Annual General Meeting and presented the 2014/15 Annual Report.

'People' newsletter

Printable, PDF editions of our quarterly newsletter, People, are available below. Subscribe to receive your own copy of People, via email or print here.

2017

Winter 2017

March 2017

2016

December 2016 (Christmas)

2015