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An organisation that works with children who have been exposed to family violence is trying to raise enough money to set up a much-needed therapy playroom in Warkworth, and eventually Wellsford.
In the 12 months to June this year, Abuse Prevention Services, based in Whangaparaoa, worked with nearly 150 children from throughout Rodney, despite the fact that for four months of that period, the service could not undertake any play therapy directly with children due to Covid.
Clinical manager Suzanne Stewart says that sadly, the need for the playrooms is increasing every year.
The playrooms are used to help children, aged seven to nine years, process trauma they have experienced in their young lives.
Stewart says family violence can manifest itself on many levels. This includes physically, emotionally, psychologically – particularly if there are a lot of arguments in the home – and financially.
Currently, families from Warkworth and Wellsford must travel to Whangaparaoa to access a playroom.
Therapy sessions are normally held once a week over 10 weeks, or 20 weeks if the trauma is more complex.
“This is a huge commitment for families outside the Hibiscus Coast, and is prohibitive for many, particularly with rising fuel costs,” Stewart says.
The set-up cost for a room is $5000.
“We have a room available to us in central Warkworth but need help to equip it as a playroom so that families in the Warkworth and surrounding areas are able to locally access play therapy for their children.”
The money will be spent on the purchase of specific toys, furniture, dress-ups and a purpose-built sand tray for therapeutic sand play work.
Stewart says play is the best and safest therapy option to help young children to both mimic real life and fantasy play.
“Play therapy is based on an understanding that play is the main language of children and is more effective than talk therapy in helping children to feel soothed. Children get to work through issues such as feeling powerless, anxious, worried, angry or isolated, which are common concerns for children impacted by family violence.”
Abuse Prevention Services is a charitable organisation focused on stopping family violence by working with both the perpetrators and the victims – mainly women and children.
It is an accredited, charitable agency, which holds contracts with various government departments to provide specialised family violence services and is audited and accountable to the standards required for continued contracting.
“The demand for our services means that we consistently exceed our contracted client numbers and this is particularly so in services for children.”
Services are provided at no cost to families.
“We believe money should not be a barrier for someone receiving support,” Stewart says.
Abuse Prevention Services hopes that local businesses and individuals will support them by contributing to the playroom’s set-up cost. Donations can be made directly to Abuse Prevention Services 12-3095-0139462-00. Please identify the contribution as ‘playroom’.
