Rebrand refines community safety trust

OFF WE GO: Team members from Wairarapa Safer Community Trust (formerly Southern Wairarapa Safer Community Council) are ready to welcome the public to the organisation's launch. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The organisation formerly known as Southern Wairarapa Safer Community Council is celebrating its rebranding with a launch showcasing its services.

Now known as the Wairarapa Safer Community Trust (WSCT), the non-profit organisation is inviting guests to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its premises behind St Marks Church in High St South, Carterton, tomorrow at 12.30pm.

The trust, which changed its name earlier this year, works with young people and families to offer budgeting and parenting programmes as well as other services.

Manager Tere Lenihan said the organisation, which was established in 1997, had been working Wairarapa-wide since about 2005 and a name change was overdue.

"Times have changed and we have done some changes remodelling with our structure, and it's a very good time to be doing this for us."

Their former name sometimes led to confusion with the South Wairarapa District Council and did not exactly roll off the tongue, she said.

As part of the rebranding, the organisation, which runs the Wairarapa Attendance Service, Alternative Education, Life to the MAX, Youth Service, Parenting Education and Big Brother Big Sister programmes, has set up a new Facebook page and website.

It was hoped the launch, which includes finger food, would help to increase the WSCT's profile, Mrs Lenihan said.

"We are throwing it open... and it would just be nice for the community to know and have some awareness."

The launch also marks the beginning of WSCT's "Whakapuaki Whanau", a kaupapa Maori programme which aims to support and guide youth and their families in a positive way.

"Whakapuaki Whanau helps to reveal the amazing talents of our rangatahi and their whanau," she said.

"We like to think of a flower that is starting to bloom showing its true beauty and potential as their talents and contributions emerge, giving them strength to make positive life choices."

The new programme aims to eliminate negative interactions with the justice system, decrease offending and increase self-confidence and establish connections with whanau and the wider community, as well as creating a co-ordinated approach to educational goals.

-Those interested in attending the launch and finding out more about Wairarapa Safer Community Trust should contact 06 379 5407, or email anniel@waisct.org.nz.