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PROUDLY BY:SPONSORED TUI JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS

www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz

New Plymouth - Ph(Also operating in Waitara, Inglewood, Stratford & Hawera)

: 06 759 8854

“We gratefully acknowledge our Principal Sponsors, who have been instrumental in enabling us to positively impact on children’s lives and empowering them to achieve in the future. However, this does not include all of the many community partners and generous supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Taranaki that we

have at a more local level, but we are no less grateful to them for their generosity and support”.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Taranaki Events:Mon 11 June 2012 Stratford Monthly Meet, 7.00pm, Stratford Community House, Juliet Street, Stratford. Tues 12 June 2012 New Plymouth Bi-Monthly Meet, 7.00pm at the Tasman Club, Octavius Place, New Plymouth.Sat 30 June 2012 Ten Pin Bowling & Pizza, 11.00am to 1.00pm - don’t forget to bring your socks and wear your Big

Brothers Big Sisters t-shirt!Wed 11 July 2012 South Taranaki Kindergarten Association present Nathan Mikaere-Wallis from The Brainwave

Trust. 7.30pm to 9.30pm, $20 per person, at New Plymouth Girls’ High School Hall. Wed 25 July 2012 School Based, Rock Climbing & Pizza, 12.00pm to 1.30pmTues 31 July 2012 Mentor & Partners Evening with our guest speaker Principal Youth Court Judge, His Honour

Judge Andrew Becroft. Legends Lounge, Yarrow Stadium, time to be confirmed.

Taranaki Events:

WelcomeWelcome JUNE 2012

Proudly Sponsored and Supported by

he first official day of winter has arrived - along with a beautiful white cap on the mountain. The office is as busy as ever, with Elle completing the final match from our last round of training. Stratford and THawera have completed some new matches as well - all in all a very busy month all round for everyone!

Puanga Kai Rau Festival 2012, Sat 9 Jun 2012 from 10.00am – midnight at Parihaka Pa, Okato. Celebrate the rise of 'Puanga' and the Maori New Year at Parihaka Pa. Join festival activities and be there for the world premiere of the new feature film Tatarakihi the children of

Parihaka! FREE - Koha and all proceeds go to the three whare at Parihaka Pa. For further information contact Emere Wano on 06 759 6947. Volcanic Taranaki, Sat 16 Jun 2012 from 2.00pm at Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki, 127 Egmont Street, Patea. What happens when Mt Taranaki blows his top? Join Puke Ariki Educator Rob Groat for this fascinating geological look back over time to when our iconic mountain was just a wee boy. Learn how he grew into the Taranaki landmark he is today and what to do the next time he explodes! This is a family-friendly session. FREE Event, but bookings essential – please call 759 6060. Roller Skating, every Friday Night from 7.00pm till 9.00pm during June at East End Roller Arena, Nobs Line, New Plymouth. Admission is $5.00, skates for hire at no extra cost. Friday 15 June will be a roller disco. Classic Hits Annual Mid Winter Swim! Wed 20 Jun 2012 from 7:00am - 8:00am at New Plymouth Yacht Club - Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth. No need to register, just turn up from 7:00am, ready for the 7:30am swim. Hot showers, changing rooms and free (hot) Watties Soup provided. FREE event. Contact

Jordon McFadyen on 06 759 2487 or for more info.

jordanm@radionnetwork.co.nz

CongratulationsCongratulationsWe have a big list of celebrations this month. This is not only reflective of our growth, but also shows the commitment from our wonderful group of volunteer mentors who continue to give of their time. Congratulations to the following matches who will celebrate their 4 YEAR match anniversary this month:Dennis Hikuroa and KamKim Sowman and StefGarry Gordon and Dante Sonia Rova and AshleighGlen & Kim Theyers and GuyCongratulations also to the following matches who will celebrate their 2 YEAR match anniversary this month: Karl Berquist and DylanHelen Hosie and RubyLinda Ruakere and OsheanaBruce Gatward-Cook and RalfJon Hall and KaydenBernice Loveridge and CarolynRichard Hales and Jamieand congratulations to the following matches who will celebrate their 1 YEAR match anniversary this month: Dave Dent and DominicDuncan Macdonald and TaineMatt Stone and ZakJohn Siddall and Daniel Luke Mattock and FarynJan Dunlop and Oliviaand congratulations to the following matches who celebrate their 3 MONTH match anniversary this month:Kevin Whelan and PaiganSheila Murphy and ShechinahStephanie Larmer and SamanthaPam Binnie and PaytonThese milestones really are a wonderful achievement, and one that we know has taken much time and dedication from you and your families. A huge well done to everyone.

Swimming Lessons

We are delighted to announce that t

. The lessons will take place during the third school term, and are aimed at all levels of swimming ability. For those New Plymouth mentors that haven’t already done so, please email or phone her on 759 8861 to register your interest. Stratford and Hawera mentors; please contact either Jo or Lee directly to register your interest. T

hrough the generous assistance of Sport Taranaki and the Kiwisport Regional Partnership Fund, we are able to offer further free lessons for our young people. These lessons will also be available in Stratford and Hawera

Shannon

here are limited places available in each area, so please contact us as soon as you can so we can allocate places. Don’t hesitate to contact us should you need any further information.

Taranaki UpdatesTen Pin Bowling and Pizza event for all mentors and their little brother or sister on Sat 30 June 2012 from 11.00am to 1.00pm. This is a great opportunity to have some food and fun for free! Please RSVP to Shannon by 22 June so we know how many pizza’s to order!Nathan Mikaere-Wallis from the Brainwave Trust will be speaking on Wednesday 11 July 2012 at NPGHS, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Tickets are $20 per person, contact Shannon if you are interested in attending.Principal Youth Court Judge, His Honour Judge Andrew Becroft will be the guest speaker at our Mentor and Partner evening on the 31st of July 2012, at the Legends Lounge, Yarrows Stadium (time to be confirmed).

QUOTE FOR THE MONTH:

“Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us

which needs to be ignited with sparks”Johann Gottfried Von Herder

Mike with his little brother Tyler - the new Easy Riders!

McDonalds New Plymouth VouchersYou will find enclosed with this newsletter some vouchers from McDonalds. Thanks to Sue Garvey and the team at McDonalds New Plymouth for the very kind donation to us - we hope you enjoy them. Don’t forget to use them as they are only valid until 20 July 2012.

Start SomethingStart Something

Monthly MeetsStratford‘s next meeting is on Monday 11 June at 7.00pm, in the Stratford Community House, Juliet Street, Stratford. New Plymouth’s next bi-monthly meet is on Tuesday 12 June at 7.00pm, at the Tasman Club, Octavius Place, New Plymouth. Although these meetings are not compulsory, we do encourage you to attend. It’s a good place to share ideas and resources, and to meet your new fellow mentors.

Congratulations to our recent matchesCongratulations to our recent matches

Tricia with her new little sister, Makayla - CB, NP

Common Phases of a Mentoring Relationship 1. Beginning the Relationship - In this stage mentors and their young person are testing the water with each other. Your young person may feel nervous or wary, and they may be putting on their best behaviour for you. They may also get frustrated if things don't go as they expected. You as a mentor may want to 'fix' everything. You may find yourself adjusting your initial expectations about being a mentor, once you've experienced it for real. Both of you may be trying to bridge each other's age, cultural and lifestyle differences as well as finding things in common. Strategies for this stage:

· Be consistent and reliable

· Show you are willing to listen

· Focus on doing things with, rather than for your young

person

· Be aware of your own feelings about age, cultural

and lifestyle differences

· Be non-judgmental

· Reach out, be available

· Be open and honest about what you can, can't or

have to do2. Building Trust - Now that the two of you know each other better and have some shared experiences under your belt, you and your young person may experience greater trust. Your young person may be coming out of his shell, feeling better about himself, or simply more confident because you have demonstrated that you care. As a result, he may share more information with you. He may start to rely on you more for support and validation in this stage, possibly to the point of becoming over dependent. At this time, you may experience more satisfaction within the mentoring relationship. You may also, however, be feeling overwhelmed by the extent of the issues faced by the young person. Strategies for this stage:

· Be patient

· Expect setbacks

· If you think your young person is becoming too dependent, set limits around the frequency and

duration of visits

· Be involved, yet keep perspective

· Continue to be consistent and reliable

· Continue to treat your young person as capable3. Testing the Relationship - Now that rapport and trust are built, it is typical for the young person to start testing boundaries in the relationship. Deep down, she may still want to see just how much staying power this relationship really has. Your young person may make inappropriate requests of you. You may even start resenting what seems like negative behaviour, and you might also feel caught in the middle between your young person and her family. Strategies for this stage:

· Don't take testing personally

· Reinforce limits, if necessary

· Continue to treat your young person as capable

· Reaffirm your intention to remain in the relationship4. Increasing Independence – Once you have come through the trust building and relationship testing, you may find your young person becoming less dependent on you and finding other sources of support. You may also see an increased sense of self-worth in your little brother/sister. However, setbacks are still possible during this stage as your young person may take bigger risks in his life and in the relationship. As a result of all of this, you may feel discouraged or less needed during this stage. Strategies for this stage:

· Point out the shifts in behaviour that you are observing and reinforce your young person's efforts to

seek support from others

· Continue to support your young person while encouraging independence

· Expect some setbacks as a natural part of this stage

Kevin with his new little brother, Paigan - CB, STFD

Hydro Slides New Plymouth District Council and the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre have kindly given all Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors and their little brother or sister free access to the hydro slides during the term 3 school holidays (30 June to 15 July). Please show your ID card on entry and the staff will give you a wristband to wear showing your eligibility. Please take care if you or your young person use the turbo slide, we have it on good authority that it is very fast - and very dark!

Faye, Vic and their little brother Nathan

Steph and her little sister Sam

Claire with her new little sister, Bonnie - CB, HWAJon with his new little brother, Kelsten - CB, STFD

Neil with his new little brother, Edward - CB, HWAMaureen with her new little sister, Tara - CB, STFD