Tauawhi Men’s Centre coordinator Tim Marshall. Picture supplied
In an effort to ensure long-term financial security for Tauawhi Men’s Centre, the Tauawhi Trust has established an endowment fund with the Sunrise Foundation.
It is the foundation’s 51st special interest fund.
Sunrise executive officer Glenda Stokes said she was delighted Tauawhi chose to establish a fund and she looked forward to the ongoing partnership.
“We’ve supported Tauawhi in several projects over the years and believe their mahi has a far-reaching positive impact in our community,” she said.
Tauawhi Men’s Centre is a drop-in centre for men, offering social work, non-violence programmes, counselling, and advocacy support. It opened as a community response from a group of local men who came together in late 2006, under Tairāwhiti Men Against Violence, following the deaths of three men and two women as a result of murder-suicide.
It has a vision of creating “a community of caring men” and within Tauawhi, that means that men who go into their space are embraced with manaakitanga and introduced to an environment where they can begin and continue their change journey.
Tauawhi kaihautu/coordinator Tim Marshall said since opening in 2010 the centre had gone from a staff of just two to a team of 16; and from solely a drop-in support model to a range of diverse services and a strong community presence.
“Over the years we have continued to work towards the holistic response to the needs of men and whānau that we dreamed of back when we first opened our doors at Tauawhi, through innovative peer support and community outreach.”
As part of that dream, Tauawhi Whare Ahuru was recently opened. This is a time-out space for men who are struggling to maintain a violence-free lifestyle and taking a different approach to addressing family harm.
Tauawhi Charitable Trust was able to open Whare Ahuru last year, with the support of Kāinga Ora community housing.
Having a respite house means if a man is being unsafe towards his family, he can stay there so his partner and children can stay where they are.
“If it’s the man who is being unsafe towards his family, it makes more sense for him to come away so that his partner and children can stay where they are. That’s the space we can provide through our Whare Ahuru,” Mr Marshall said.
Sunrise Foundation trustee Leslynne Jackson was delighted when she learned an endowment fund for Tauawhi had been seeded. Previously a member of Tauawhi’s board of trustees for 13 years, Leslynne says although she is no longer directly involved, she will always support the valuable work they do with those who need their help.
“If you want to keep men, women and children safe, make sure that men can get the help they need, in the way that is right for them. Tim and the team at Tauawhi recognise the importance of this, which is evident in the way they connect with men and their families. Tauawhi has great local governance and leadership and works collectively with other providers when it makes sense to do so.”
Tauawhi’s experienced team ensures every individual receives the guidance they need to navigate life’s challenges. Over the years, their impact has been profound, where countless men, from diverse backgrounds, have turned their lives around with Tauawhi’s support.
It seems now that in the wider context of their work there is finally acknowledgement that moving past the traditional, short-term programmatic ways of addressing men’s issues such as family violence, to a more comprehensive and long-term model like Tauawhi’s, is the way forward.
Mr Marshall said he hoped this holistic approach will help them in realising their full potential, helping the men of Tairāwhiti to reach theirs.
“As we look to the future, our commitment remains unwavering: to be a beacon of hope, transformation, and community building in Tairāwhiti. We’re more than just a support centre; we’re a sanctuary. At Tauawhi, every man is welcomed, understood, and empowered,” he said.
Tim says he is looking forward to the ongoing partnership with Sunrise, to allow Tauawhi to continue to provide support to the men and whānau of Tairāwhiti.