SPACE celebrates its 10th anniversary this year

SPACE Celebration week

21st October – 25th October 2013

10 years of supporting parents and babies!

SPACE celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has planned a ‘make-a-difference’ campaign which will take place through a special week of SPACE sessions around the country from the 21st – 25th of October, where all SPACE parents and SPACE supporters can celebrate together. Each family currently enrolled in a SPACE programme will receive a free gift from SPACE NZ Trust to acknowledge their participation!

SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children’s Education) is a programme mainly for first time parents and their babies.  From early beginnings as a local initiative within Hutt Playcentre Association, SPACE is now a national programme that is currently supporting approximately 1932 parents and their babies across the country. The success of SPACE can be contributed to a diverse range of people – passionate, enthusiastic, visionary people; kind hearted, honest, hardworking people – with the common goal being to support and value parenting in New Zealand.

SPACE NZ Trust is a not for profit organisation and the governing body of the SPACE programme. Leanne Dawson, the Trust’s Manager and Development Leader explains “As a trust we are committed to working in partnership with other organisations to strengthen our communities by supporting families/whānau.” Leanne adds, “Part of the celebration is to recognise the contribution of the many people involved with SPACE who walk alongside parents and their babies and promote the creation of strong networks and friendships. They really make a difference”!

The celebratory SPACE sessions will give participants the opportunity to reflect on what kind of support they have found valuable in their parenting journey, as well as consider how they could extend that support to others in some way. Sue Pattinson, SPACE NZ’s National Partnership Coordinator explains “it can be the simplest things that make a difference; a reassuring smile, a hand on your shoulder, a cup of tea and a break in which to drink it while it is still warm! They not only make the day a bit brighter but share a message of ‘you are doing a great job. It creates community and we need a community to support us in our parenting.”

The SPACE programme provides new parents with an opportunity to develop friendships with other parents and to forge links with a range of family orientated community organisations and service providers. Michelle, a SPACE parent, has enjoyed the chance to meet others with young children, “SPACE has meant an opportunity to get out and interact with families going through the same stage of the life changing experience of having a first child. It has provided support through networking, opportunities to discuss parenting topics and a great way to explore the world with my child.”

The positive impact of SPACE has a ripple effect as relationships are formed, connections are made and communities come together, united with the shared goal of supporting parents, babies and families.  As Dr Mark Huthwaite (Psychiatrist and former SPACE NZ Trustee) explains, “SPACE provides the "well-being capital" for babies and mums to flourish. In SPACE this ‘well-being capital’ is grown by engagement with others, a sense of purpose and a good measure of Learning, Laughter and Love (the ‘3 Ls'). From individual contributions, to the strength of a team, to the people in the background ensuring the cogs keep turning, the future for SPACE is bright. Now that is a lot to celebrate!

SPACE sessions are held at suitable community venues. For details on programmes in your area please visit our website: www.space.org.nz or www.facebook.com/SpaceNzTrust

Ends

© Scoop Media