Mentor plan for home violence victims

MENTOR: Angela Warren-Clark believes the RAW mentor project will be a game changer for survivors of domestic violence.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

A mentor programme designed to give domestic-violence victims support as they start abuse-free lives has been launched in Tauranga.

Tauranga Women's Refuge has signed on to fashion designer Annah Stretton's latest initiative - Reclaiming Another Woman or RAW.

The project, which was piloted in the Waikato earlier this year, pairs abused women keen to build a better life with a female mentor who helps them reach their goals.

Ms Stretton said the Waikato pilot had resulted in more than 70 matches after just six weeks, which had encouraged them to roll out the programme in the Bay. "Tauranga, as such a close neighbour, it is a logical choice and given the economies of scale, will enable us to introduce the service relatively easily."

Ms Stretton said RAW's goal was all about "educating for choice". "It's about finding time to lend a guiding hand and perhaps become a trusted ear and confidante. With this one-on-one support from someone who will never judge, but always listen. I believe that these women can begin to identify new pathways forward, begin to explore a range of new options and hopefully ignite self-belief.

"This is a model that simply requires one woman to care enough to give her time to another woman. The mentor offers company, safety, strength, and support; together they can endeavour to break what is an extremely vicious, destructive and often repetitive cycle within this country," she said.

Tauranga Women's Refuge manager Angela Warren-Clark described RAW as a "game changer" and urged Bay women to take part. "We are looking for mentors that have travelled a very different pathway in their lives than the women that they will be matched with; happy, focused, capable, can-do women that know education is the game changer."

Mrs Warren-Clark said being a mentor involved a commitment of about one hour a week for a minimum of one year. "Your role as a mentor is not to work with women therapeutically, but to work with her to reach her goals such as education, planning and goal setting.

"We are also looking for women who have experienced some form of domestic violence that would like to be mentored.

"We believe RAW has the potential to be a real game changer in the Bay, to break the destructive cycle of domestic violence."

If you are interested in being mentored, or would like to be a mentor contact the Tauranga Women's Refuge on 07 541 1910.