Cholmondeley Children’s centre
Tamariki are nurtured, strong and resilient. Whānau are self-managing and empowered.
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Tamariki are nurtured, strong and resilient. Whānau are self-managing and empowered..
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Cholmondeley Children’s Centre provides short term emergency or planned respite care for whānau with children aged 5-12 which can be accessed in times of whānau stress or crisis.
We offer wrap-around 24/7 respite care for tamariki aged 5-12, outdoor activities, and learning experiences designed to foster wellbeing and resilience.
Our service also supports whānau in their own homes with our community outreach Awhi Team. This is made up of social workers, youth workers and Whānau Ora Navigators to encourage and awhi whānau in their daily journey of life.
Cholmondeley is an independent charity and costs close to $3,000,000 per year to run. Just 20% of this figure is met by Government funding, and the remaining 80% comes from the generous support of the Canterbury community.
Cholmondeley’s services are guided by its philosophy of care which is based on the rights of tamariki.
We believe in the mana and potential of every child and help them to develop their strengths through our care and education.
We operate from a trauma-informed model of care and our practice also follows the Te Whare Tapa Whā model. A trauma informed model of care recognises the impact trauma has on people’s health and wellbeing and creates a safe environment to support healing. Te Whare Tapa Whā was created by Māori health advocate Sir Mason Durie in 1984. The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls. These walls represent taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing), taha hinengaro/ (mental and emotional wellbeing), taha tinana (physical wellbeing) and taha whānau (family and social wellbeing). Our connection with the whenua (land) forms the foundation.
When all of these pillars or walls are in balance, we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance it impacts our wellbeing.
At Cholmondeley we believe
Children have the right to be unconditionally respected by adults.
Children have the right to feel safe and be free of violence.
Children have the right to have their physical, emotional, social, intellectual, cultural and spiritual needs met.
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Cholmondeley’s respite care service is designed to best support Canterbury tamariki between the ages of five and 12. However, it can also support independent tamariki aged three or four if they are accompanied by an older sibling.
The respite care service gives tamariki the chance to be tamariki, in a safe learning and play environment set up to feel like a home away from home. After a tamariki has completed the referral process outlined below, they can be booked to stay at Cholmondeley every six to eight weeks, for up to three nights at a time. Every tamariki is different, and the frequency and length of their stay are tailored to their needs.
To start the conversation about a new referral give us a call on 03 329 9832 or 027 444 7320 to speak with one our friendly Awhi Team.
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Cholmondeley doesn’t just support tamariki at the centre in Governors Bay, its’ Awhi Team also works alongside whānau in their own homes to give them a helping hand on their journey.
This could be to offer support with parenting, managing children’s emotions and behaviours, or setting up new habits or routines for whānau and their tamariki.
To start the conversation about a new referral give us a call on 03 329 9832 or 027 444 7320 to speak with one our friendly Awhi Team.
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Cholmondeley receives a phone call or email enquiring about respite care.
Our Awhi Team acknowledges the referral within two days and may ask for more information to present to Cholmondeley’s clinical panel.
The clinical panel is presented with the referral and decides whether Cholmondeley is the best fit to meet the tamariki’s needs.
If the clinical panel believes Cholmondeley is the right fit we will invite the tamariki to visit the centre with a trusted adult.
If this visit is positive the team will plan an overnight stay for the tamariki.
If this overnight stay is successful, a two-night stay is planned.
If this two-night stay goes well, the tamariki is booked in for regular stays at the centre.
A Brief History
Cholmondeley has been serving the Canterbury community since 1925 and in that time more than 30,000 tamariki have stayed at the centre. Hugh Heber Cholmondeley left the land and original Cholmondeley house to the children of the Banks Peninsula area, in memory of his late wife Margaret and on March 7th 1925 ‘Cholmondeley Memorial Children’s Home’ was established. Fast forward to 2015 and the purpose-built Cholmondeley Children’s Centre you see today opened its doors.
