What we do: Women prisoner (and post-release) mentoring programme

This new exciting programme is based on the supergrans movement that has now established itself

in 14 locations around NZ. To date it has 150+ volunteers supporting 1800 + individuals and families

annually.

Its purpose is to help people in need through support and guidance from mature volunteers who

understand the need and have the ability to share their knowledge and experiences.

All mentoring activities are designed to be within the normal activities of the person / family (examples

include basic cooking and food prep, menu creation & planning, budgeting, simple DIY, dress making,

gardening, parenting support etc). The supergran mentor provides long term assistance and

structures with the help provided at a level that can be maintained by the person / family.

The mentor will not provide finance or financial assistance for the individual or family. All help will be of

a practical nature based around making what is already available go further in an economical way.

Our mentors will not be intrusive, moralistic, political or judgemental in any way. While being values

based, the programme has no political or religoius orientation.

Here in the Bay

The Napier Pilot City Trust has agreed to establish its own locally based mentoring programme. A

meeting was held in mid June at the Pukemokimoki Marae featuring Ann Abraham (Manager of

Arohata womens prison) and Kathy Braddick, (co-ordinator of the Bush Grannies programme based in

Pahiatua, northern Wairarapa). During this meeting there was widespread support for establishing a

programme here in the Bay - as a result several follow-up meetings have been planned to fine tune the

vision and plan for implementing the group here in the Bay.

Once the programme is up and running full training, supervision and support willl be given to all our

mentors (please note men can be involved too). Unfortunately we will not be in a position to pay our

mentors, however depending on funding we hope to be able to meet reasonable expenses, e.g. for

transport.

Please note we have yet to be endorsed by the national Supergranmovement; until that happens we

cannot finalise the name of our group. If we decide not to work with the national movement, we wil

l still go ahead, but call ourselves something different.

To view our mentors job description please click here. Should you have any questions, please do not

hesitate to contact the office.

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