Accreditation sought to expand trust roles

Waitaki Safer Community Trust restorative justice co-ordinator Derek Beveridge, trust chairwoman...
Waitaki Safer Community Trust restorative justice co-ordinator Derek Beveridge, trust chairwoman Clare Kearney, and trust manager Marian Shore prepare to boost services and coverage in North Otago. Photo: Shannon Gillies.
Waitaki Safer Community Trust is rebranding and branching out in an effort to meet the safety needs of North Otago residents.

The organisation is seeking accreditation from the Ministry of Social Development so it can expand its services and begin to tackle wider safety and social issues.

The trust, formerly known as the Waitaki Safety Community Council, was started in 1998 when it ran the diversion programme before expanding into restorative justice.

The trust also had a new logo made up of four shapes, each a shade of a primary colour.

Trust manager Marian Shore said the accreditation would give the organisation credibility and ensure  its processes were sustainable, robust and transparent.

Once one Government agency had approved, then others would be more likely to grant contracts, she said.

Trust chairwoman Clare Kearney said the core business of the trust was to provide restorative justice, but the body wanted to expand services to meet needs identified in the area.

Major additions to services the trust wanted to offer the community once accreditation was gained included programmes directed at youth justice, youth health, alcohol and drug counselling, family violence deterrents and anger management.

"There’s lots of needs," Ms Kearney said.

"We want to put the case forward for the specific needs that relate to our community and we need to put that case to Government about what’s required now."

The trust’s restorative justice co-ordinator Derek Beveridge said there were already services in the community trying to meet demand, but a big expansion was needed.

Mrs Kearney said the move to expand represented a change in emphasis and a natural expansion of the trust’s work.

The trust was waiting for word on accreditation, she said.

shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz

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