A programme to provide 35 vulnerable families with mentoring from a social worker has been given a kick-start of $25,000.
Tauranga Salvation Army planned to launch the project as a way of tackling child poverty and BayTrust has provided $25,000 towards it.
The funds would be used to employ a whanau social worker to mentor 35 local families on a weekly basis over a 12-month period.
Manager of Tauranga Salvation Army's community ministries Davina Plummer said the mentor would come up with a development plan for each vulnerable family.
We're keen to see sustainable change. We want to see generational change. It's not just a short-term fix
"We want to help children explore their passions and interests through education, sport and the arts and we'll connect their parents into the Salvation Army's existing positive parenting programmes, budget support, counselling, family therapy, addiction services and our education and employment services."
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Ms Plummer said it was difficult for families to go from one agency to another seeking help and receiving short-term interventions.
"We're keen to see sustainable change. We want to see generational change. It's not just a short-term fix," she said.
The social worker would not work with all 35 families at the same time, rather stagger the families.
Ms Plummer said the social worker would direct and guide families to support services already available.
Another aspect of the programme was to encourage each family member to "give back" and do volunteer work in the community, at local events or through Salvation Army programmes.
"It's good for them to feel they have something worthwhile to contribute. It adds to their sense of well-being and self-esteem - but it benefits the whole community at the same times," Ms Plummer said.
The 35 families would be families affected by income problems.
"Life is getting tough here, the price of housing is forcing some families into the situation where rent is taking up almost all their income."
The Salvation Army was seeking operational funding and developing the idea further. It was already running in Waitakere and if successful it could be rolled out across the wider Bay of Plenty.
BayTrust chief executive Alastair Rhodes said the idea was a key priority for the community-funding agency as it would have a sustainable and long-term impact on families.
"For a variety of reasons some families, children and parents need assistance to reach their full potential, improve their lives or recover from setbacks.
He said BayTrust was pleased to provide the first $25,000 and looked forward to seeing a positive difference in Tauranga families' lives.