Message from our CEO

In a year of significant cuts to social services funding, demand for support is increasing steadily across our region. Our community is facing daunting increases in financial hardship, food insecurity, homelessness and unemployment.

At PSO this is clear from our growing wait lists for programmes and support services and reinforced by my conversations with our parish leaders and community. The way our staff and supporters are responding to these challenges though, reminds me every day that there is always hope and joy to be found from within our wonderful community.

Alongside the generous donations and gifts we received from across our region during the Christmas appeal, we are also welcoming new volunteers into our services, with several individuals currently training to become adult buddies for our Buddy Programme. In addition, with the recent appointment of our new Family Works General Manager and our People, Culture and Capability Manager, our leadership team is now complete and excited to work with our community to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.

This issue of People spotlights the extraordinary impact of our YouthGrow and Growing Taller programmes, where fun and adventure is the context for our young people to develop emotional regulation, resilience and friendships – skills for life.

To support programmes like these we will continue to host fundraising events, like our big fundraising event for the year; the Runway Revival Fundraiser Fashion Show. I hope to see many of you there for this fabulous celebration of talented designers and upcycled fashion!

Ngā mihi

Robbie Moginie
CEO, Presbyterian Support Otago

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