Grant for Mental Health From Save the Children

By STUART, Hamish

Waimate’s Centrecare counselling service has received a $1400 grant from the Save the Children Foundation.

Centrecare spokesperson Penny Maxwell said the centre dealt with all aspects of mental health, from relationship services to severe mental illness.

“The money from Save the Children will make a huge difference. We are very much a charity and funded by donations,” she said.

The money would go towards providing resources for children and their families, giving them information they may not feel comfortable getting from the library, Ms Maxwell said.

This would include condition-specific resources aimed at children, with information on dealing with anger, sexual abuse, aspergers and attention deficit disorder.

The Centrecare service had been running for about 20 years and saw about 150 clients per year, Ms Maxwell said.

It employs one counsellor four days per week and one two days per week.

In addition to the paid staff, a team of 30 volunteers give their time to keep the centre running, she said.

The Save the Children organisation wanted to help local children as well as those overseas, South Canterbury branch vice president Anna Wilkes said.

The application was made to the small grants fund, which dealt with grants under $5000. The fund has given out more than 80 grants in the last year.