www.barnardos.org.nz

A Decade on the Phone – Helping People Help Themselves

Do you know 0800 222 345? If not, it’s time you got it into your head and did yourself a big favour.

By telephoning 0800 222 345, you will have instant access to a wealth of information on issues such as making ends meet, sorting out family relationships, finding local support, rights under family law….the telephone call could turn your life around.

Got it yet? For those who haven’t heard, the 0800 222 345 is the nationwide free phone number run by Barnardos FAIR Centre to help New Zealanders improve their lives.

This month, the FAIR Centre turns ten. Its team of four paid and seven voluntary staff kicked off the birthday celebrations at Barnardos National Office in Wellington, where the FAIR Centre is based.

“The FAIR Centre provides a unique information service for New Zealanders,” says FAIR Centre Manager Darion Webber. As well as running the free phone it produces information sheets for distribution to callers and subscribers, such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux,Plunket Society, IHC, Women’s Refuge and many more.

“Although callers and subscribers are on the increase, the service is still not well known in the community,” says Darion.”

“It would be fantastic if the 0800 222 345 number was the number at the front of people’s minds when they needed help. Although we’re not a counselling service, our team has a wealth of experience and access to vast amount of information – they can make a huge difference to those who call.”

Over the past decade 25,596 people called the FAIR Centre free phone, nearly one fifth of them in the last year. Forty-nine information sheets are available, with nearly 115,000 copies distributed over the decade. Last year, nearly 30,000 were distributed to 580 subscribers and callers. So here’s that free phone number again – 0800 222 345.

ENDS

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