Last updated 27th March 2020
The health of our HELP Auckland Clients, Staff, Contractors, Volunteers and their extended families and the community are our focus at present with the current COVID-19 Level 4 situation.
We place immense value on the trust the community gives us to not only support of women and children who are at risk or survivors of sexual abuse, but also to support the wider community who are at greater risk of sexual abuse during lockdown.
In light of the recent COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown, we have closed our offices however we continue to provide our Crisis phone line 0800 623 1700 24 hours a day. All current clients are being contacted by their therapist and provided with phone consultations. Online consultations are to be implemented. We are still accepting referrals for new clients.
To help keep you informed of how we are responding to COVID-19, we have implemented a communication strategy providing support on how to keep safe and well. This is being done through email direct mail; social media through @HelpAuckland and @DearEm; and through our blog on www.helpauckland.org.nz. You can also subscribe to our EDM through our website.
HELP Auckland’s team is meeting frequently to ensure our policies, procedures and communications are delivering the very best information on any emerging health advice and action required. 
Kathryn McPhillips
Executive Director 

Helpful Tips
During the next four weeks you may feel a lot of different emotions. We want to support you as much as possible with tips on mental health and keeping positive.
 
 Plan your day
 
We are all adjusting to a new, rather strange, way of life. This can be a risk to our mental well being.
As tempting as it might be to stay in pyjamas all day, regular routines are essential for our identity, self-confidence and purpose.
Try to start your day at roughly the same time you usually would and aim to set aside time each day for movement, relaxation, connection and reflection.
 
Move more every day
 
Being active reduces stress, increases energy levels, can make us more alert and help us sleep better.
Explore different ways of adding physical movement and activity to your day and find some that work best for you.
Even at home, there will be lots of ways to exercise and keep your body moving.
TV One has Les Mills doing an exercise class Monday to Friday at 9am and TV Two has a class for children at 3pm.
'Walk, walk, walk, walk' if you can. Keep in your bubble, 2 meters from everyone.

Try a relaxation technique
 
Relaxing and focusing on the present can help improve your mental health and lighten negative feelings.
Try some different meditation or breathing exercises to see what helps. For example, sometimes we can be so tense that we do not even remember what being relaxed feels like. Progressive muscle relaxation teaches you to recognise when you are starting to get tense and how to relax.

Connect with others

Staying at home, especially if you live on your own, can feel lonely. Find creative ways to keep in touch with co-workers, friends, family, and others to help you (and them) feel more connected and supported.
Explore ways of connecting that work for you, whether that’s by post, over the phone, social media, or video-chat. This could be anything, from sharing a cup of tea over video, playing an online game together, or simply sending a supportive text-message.
Facetime has group messaging options with video. Have a family get together online. Click here for a video link on how to group facetime. 

Take time to reflect and practice self-compassion
 
Make time every day to reflect on what went well. It's important to recognise your successes and the things you are grateful for, no matter how small. Consider keeping a gratitude journal each day where you could write two or three of these things every night before you go to bed.
Give others three compliments a day in your household as well, then ask them for three compliments back. 
Kindness techniques may also help you focus on the present rather than dwelling on unhelpful thoughts. #actsofkindness are highlighted on our #act2HELP page.

Improve your sleep
 
​Feelings of uncertainty and changes to daily life may mean you have more difficulty sleeping.
There is a lot you can do to improve your sleep. Aim to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even at the weekend if you can, and try to get some natural sunlight (by opening your curtains and windows) where possible. This helps to regulate your body clock which can help you sleep better.
Wind down before bed by avoiding using your phone, tablet, computer or TV for an hour before bedtime.

Mental Health Foundation NZ click here for more information on coping with COVID-19

HELP Auckland's services
Our crisis service remains open 24/7
0800 623 1700
 
Therapy services will continue online or by phone. Your therapist will be in touch.
 
For information about coping with sexual abuse you can find useful resources on our website here
 
If you are concerned you might have COVID-19, call the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS

Ministry of Health information here

Colour Me Purple has been postponed Until the 28tjdue to COVID 19 pandemic until October 21st.  Tickets are still for sale and those bought for April's event will be honoured. 

It will be a fun and entertaining night with The Fan Brigade's very entertaining and sometimes raunchy act; award winning young singer Tayla Alexander; and a charity auction with something for everyone. Tasty canapes and refreshments will be provided.
​Wear purple with the craziest 'purple of purple' outfits winning a prize. 

$65 plus fees pp
$120 plus fees for two people
Tickets will sell fast so don't delay. 
​Book now

Round the Bays 2020 - will you join us?
We'd love you to join us on 8th March, as part of our Round the Bays team. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by sexual violence. That’s why we are walking, running and standing alongside each other to bring about an end to sexual violence.

Want to join our Run for HELP team? Here's how...

1. Visit our Round the Bays Team EveryDay Hero website here 
2. Click 'Join Team' bottom right
3. Register yourself with EveryDay Hero or login if you have a registration already
4. You can run as a member of our team 
5. Or click here if you want to start your own team for HELP (remember to choose HELP Auckland as your charity)
​6. Register yourself with Round the Bays here

Once you've registered, we’ll be in touch to let you know what to do next – how to fundraise, what to share on Facebook, how to get people involved. We'll also organise some fab team bonding opportunities!

Just want to donate this time?
You can donate directly to the campaign through here. 

Any questions email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 
​

Tamara Waugh is a handy person to know in a crowd. She knows exactly what everyone around her is doing and the location of the nearest exit. While having eyes like a hawk may sound like a helpful trait to have, there's a heart breaking reason behind her hypervigilance - she's endured years of sexual abuse. She is looking for ways to escape and keep safe!
 
You can listen to Tamara’s story here .
 
Tamara is aware that this is a time where everyone is expected to be full of happy smiles and Christmas cheer, when in reality that might be extremely far away from how a survivor may actually be feeling.
There are many survivors of rape and sexual abuse who don’t see their families, which can make this time of year even more difficult because there is a big emphasis on family life.  
Sexual abuse is much more common than is generally known because it is still such a sensitive subject that many people are uncomfortable admitting it has happened to them. By the time survivors are ready to ask for help, sometimes years later, the abuse may have had a devastating impact on many aspects of their life. It can affect emotions, behaviours, relationships, family life, and educational and professional achievement. Survivors of abuse may experience anxiety, flashbacks, depression, eating disorders, addictions, self-harm and suicidal feelings.
HELP can’t take away what has happened but we can help survivors find a way to move past it and lead an empowered, fulfilling life. And we can give young people (and their parents, teachers the tools to keep themselves as safe as possible from abuse.  Whether you can give time, skills or money to support our work, we need you. Help us to prevent abuse and support survivors of abuse and continue supporting survivors like Tamara. 

Donate Now

ASB Marathon
HELPathon team
 
We knocked the Bridge off! What a walk / run by a team of 14. We had staff, board members, family of staff, kindergartens, students and general public supporting us. We have raised nearly $10,000 and delighted with the effort. Thank you all. You can still donate to the team now. 

​Art and Canape evening with Mary Kisler
 
Our night on the 31st October featuring Mary Kisler, Senior Art Curator, raised $10,000 for HELP Auckland.

A big thank you Kelliher Charitable Trust for hosting the event. Chef Kit Perera for chef for a night for 12 people and Paul Van Dorp with Terrace Downs for a week for four people through our live auction. Lynn Clayton Fine Art Photography for her piece of art work as well as all of the silent auction donors.

We could not have done it without you all.

 
The report, titled Attrition and progression: Reported sexual violence victimisations in the criminal justice system, analyses 23,739 sexual violence cases reported to police between July 2014 and June 2018. Conviction rates have NOT improved since the last report four years ago.The data showed that for every 100 sexual violence incidents reported to the police, only 31 made it to court, 11 resulted in a conviction and six in imprisonment.

Low conviction rates remain challenging especially for cases involving children. HELP Auckland would like to see changes to the court process for children. Children are put into situations as if they're small adults, and while the legislative changes are going to address that to some degree in terms of ensuring children can understand the questions put to them, it still seems that our processes are fixated on criminal justice rather than getting children safe. Jan Logie, MP, has announced changes to the court system recently and improvements are being implemented. 

​The long awaited Public hearing into child abuse in state care has begun. 
Survivors of child abuse testified before a New Zealand state commission as the nation opened a two-week public hearing. Around 100,000 children and adults were taken from their families between 1950 and 1999. We await the results.

A support group is backing a new service to help reduce trauma for sexual violence survivors. The pilot programme, announced by Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni on Monday, will offer sexual violence survivors psycho-social support from Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation (HELP) as they move through the court system. It is being trialled for a year in Auckland.
HELP Executive Director Kathryn McPhillips said people entering the justice system often feel re-victimised and the programme will help people deal with those feelings. "Primarily it helps people learn to manage what's going to happen to them in that process," she told Newshub. Ms McPhillips believes the programme will make a difference and could lead to more convictions in sexual violence cases. "The right kind of support provided to survivors can mean that conviction rate rises," she said.

31st October 
6pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Kelliher Charitable Trust, Parnell

Mary Kisler, Senior Art Curator at Auckland Art Gallery, will present her book on Frances Hodgkins’ life and art work ‘Finding Frances Hodgkins’. Frances was one of our most talented artists and as you can see a truly amazing spirit with her own determination and individuality during a challenging era for women.  

Feel like you are travelling through Europe with Mary and Frances!! A special night not to be missed!

Auction prizes and raffle on the night.
Tickets: $75 pp or $140 for two includes wine and canapes.
Tickets through supporthelp@helpauckland.org.nz

​HELP opens new office in Albany Village to offer support sessions for people on the the North Shore. Sylvia Yandall, Crisis Team Manager, with our Kaumatua, Papa Fred, officiated at the opening on Monday.#listensupportheal

Need On October 20th HELP Auckland is putting together a HELPathon team in each of these categories at the Auckland Marathon. Something for everyone! 

• 2km kids’ marathon
• 5km family walk
• 12km traverse
• Half marathon
• Full marathon

 
This EveryDay Hero page helps you ask friends, family / whanau, colleagues, gym buddies and the rest of your mates to support you and HELP Auckland. 

After you have made your EveryDay Hero page, click here, you will still need to register yourself with the Auckland Marathon here. 

Teeshirts provided for training and the event. Cheerleaders and lots of support prior and during the event. Party at finish line!!

Do it yourself or make a team. Create a crazy name and make a day of it!
You could be a ‘Me Too’ person or a 'You Too' as you will know someone!

Need more information email supporthelp@helpauckland.org.nz

In New Zealand, sexual abuse is one of the key social problems undermining the health and well-being of our population today. However, for a myriad of social reasons it is often left undiscussed and unaddressed.
                                                                 
                                                           DONATE HERE

People are becoming more and more aware of the disastrous impacts of sexual abuse and the shocking prevalence of it here in New Zealand / Aotearoa. The recent TV coverage has highlighted not only the appalling incidence in our communities but also in parliament! 
Research suggests that up to 1 in 3 girls might be subject to an unwanted sexual experience by the age of 16 and international studies have tended to find a figure of 1 in 7 boys.  In 50% of cases, abuse occurred on multiple occasions.

As a result of the increase in demand we have had to close our books for those who need ongoing counselling until more resources become available. The people affected by our service limitation are girls from age 2 years, boys up to age 8 years with their family / whanau; youth and women up to the age of 70 years. Our clients come from all walks of life but are predominantly low income, high need children, youth and women.

We desperately want to open our waiting list up again so that we can see more clients in need of urgent counselling and support. HELP needs two more part time counsellors urgently. That is $33,547 each. This will allow us to open our waiting list again.

Can you help us raise this amount? We all know someone impacted by sexual abuse and/or assault – maybe you are a ‘Me Too’ survivor.
We congratulate the government on the new fund to support sexual abuse in the community! Well done Jan Loggie for her advocacy to make this happen. This will still leave us with a shortfall in our funding.

In the words of a survivor:
“Words cannot express the gratitude and thanks that I would like to say, but thank you, and the thought that I am on the right path may give you comfort for the work that you do”.
We are committed to continuing to provide specialist services to help victims become survivors as they reclaim their lives after the devastation that sexual violence causes. 

Should you wish to talk directly to our new fundraiser, Ruth Davy, about volunteering, supporting us in kind or running an event or leaving a legacy in your Will contact us here. 

Your donation is gratefully appreciated. 

Welcome Ruth Davy to HELP Auckland as fundraiser. Ruth will be establishing ‘peer to peer’ platforms for fundraising, an annual awareness and fundraising campaign and regular events. Watch this space. Ruth has led not for profits for 27 years and is delighted to be able work with HELP. Her passion to make a difference and her skill creating fundraising systems are welcomed by us all. #fundraiseforacause  
If you would like to talk to Ruth about running an event, supporting HELP, joining the Auckland Marathon with the 'Helpathon' team email supporthelp@helpauckland.org.nz