Education

Methodist Social Services offers FREE family / whanau based education programmes aimed at primary and intermediate aged children and their families, the parenting programme Parenting Through Separation, and the adult programme WAVES for bereavement by suicide. Koha / donations are welcomed.

Our family education programmes require a parent/ caregiver to attend alongside of the children. The parent/ caregiver attends the adults group while the child attends the children’s group allowing parallel learning to occur. A time of sharing is usual at the end of each weekly session and afternoon tea is provided. Each programme has 3 experienced tutors, with a maximum of 10 children per group. The programmes run on either a Tuesday or Thursday from 4.15. Please refer to each individual programme for further information.

If you wish to enrol in a programme please either contact Laura at the office or you can also email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Skills for Managing Anger

A programme designed to help children handle conflict more effectively.

Children participating in the programme will learn:

to understand their feelings of anger and identify their personal ‘hot buttons’;
the difference between anger and violence;
to recognise their physical anger signs;
how to understand their own ‘self talk’;
techniques to calm down and centre themselves after they have stepped back from a volatile / angry situation;
to set and achieve realistic goals and plans for using their anger management skills in daily life;
concepts and skills that will empower them to manage their anger.

Parents participating will learn:

Understanding what motivates anger;
Learning to understand the difference between anger and violence;
Learning strategies for using anger positively;
Understanding how to provide an environment where they can help make the changes.

Books This programme is likely to run in Terms 2 and 3 in 2019.

Grief Loss and Change

Designed for primary and intermediate aged children and their parents/ cargivers. This is a family / whanau based programme that aims to support families through change in their lives.

Change, loss and grief are a part of life for everyone, but until recently, it was not acknowledged that children grieve for losses in their lives just as adults do.

Feelings of loss and grief can be brought about by many things. Death, separation, a grandparent moving away or becoming ill, moving house, changing schools, the loss of a pet, can all contribute to feelings of loss and grief.

There are often loss and grief issues for children of families living apart. Sometimes these issues come up months or years later or when a parent enters a new relationship.

There is no ‘right’ time to deal with loss and no ‘right’ age.
Being part of a group can help children to realise that what they feel is normal and being part of a group can provide support for parents/caregivers.

Aims of the Group

    •   To provide a safe honest environment for children who have suffered a loss;
   •   To raise children’s and parents/caregivers’ understanding of the process of grief and loss.
   •   To normalise grief and loss;
   •   To provide children with an opportunity to express feelings safely;
   •   To ease the sense of isolation for children and parents/caregivers;
   •   To help children develop coping skills.

This programme is currently running, and is likely to run again in Terms 3 in 2019.

WAVES programme for bereavement by suicide

Waves is an 8 week programme that aims to support adults 18+ years old who have been bereaved by suicide.
The programme combines learning about suicide and bereavement with group discussion and support. The group is facilitated by two trained facilitators and supports members to:

Meet and share with others who are also experiencing the impact of suicide.
Provide a safe supportive environment to explore aspects of their grief and reduce isolation and stigma associated with bereavement by suicide.
Gain information and strategies about how to care for themselves and others (including children and young people), after a suicide.
Adjust to living with loss and moving forward.

We will be running two programmes in 2019, one commencing in April, and one in July. These will be run on Tuesday evenings.
Please contact Laura on 350-0307, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Friends for Life - Managing Anxiety

We are no longer offering this programme. Those wishing to access a programme for children with anxiety issues are encouraged to contact ACROSS Social Services who are now offering the CALM programme. Contact ACROSS on 356 7486 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Parenting Through Separation

We offer the Parenting Through Separation programme funded by the Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with Parentline Manawatu and Barnados.
Parenting Through Separation is a free parenting course that’s available all year around New Zealand.

At the course, you’ll get practical advice to help you understand and manage the needs of your children following separation.

The Parenting Through Separation course can also help grandparents and other family and whānau members who may be involved in caring for your children.

The course takes 4 hours and is held either all in 1 daytime session at MSS (on weekends), 1 daytime session with Barnardos (weekdays), and in 2 sessions of 2 hours at Parentline (weekday evenings).

You and your ex-partner should attend different courses. If you wish to bring a support person, please let us know at the time of booking as space is limited in the venue.

These courses fill up very quickly, so please book as soon as possible. Bookings can be made on 350 0307 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.