Growing Through Grief
ACW provides the Seasons for Growth® programme, which offers peer-support groups for children, young people, and adults who are experiencing change, grief and loss in their lives. This may include the death of a loved one, parental separation or divorce, moving house or school, as well as many other life changes and losses.
Seasons for Growth® aims to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of children, young people, and adults who have experienced significant loss and change, and to support individuals to adapt to what they are experiencing.
The metaphor of the four seasons provides a framework within which participants can explore their experiences of grief with others, develop skills and understanding, and restore self-esteem and self-confidence. This occurs in the safe atmosphere of small support groups facilitated by trained volunteers called Companions.
Children’s programmes are available after school at community venues or in-school by arrangement with the school. Please contact the programme closest to you to find out more information and sign up to the programme.
Age appropriate groups are available for children and young people between 6 and 18 years. In some centres, programmes are also available for adults. Seasons for Growth® respects all cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Programmes currently available are:
For Children and Young People:
Seasons for Growth® Levels 1 to 3 – Age appropriate groups for children aged 6-12 years.
Seasons for Growth® Level 4 – Age appropriate groups for young people aged 13-18 years.
We also have a short 4 session programme for children and young people affected by someone they love being seriously ill.
For Adults:
“Understanding Change, Loss and Grief” – a 3-hour interactive seminar for professionals or other interested groups and individuals, to deepen their general understanding of the nature and impact of change, loss and grief on their lives or in their workplace.
“Exploring the Seasons of Grief” – a small group programme for adults, providing opportunity to reflect on their personal experiences of loss and to gain understanding and skills to assist with wellbeing. The groups meet for four weekly sessions of 2.5 hours.
For Parents:
Short programmes providing the chance for parents to wonder, share, discuss and learn ways to nurture their child through change in the family.
“Supporting your Child following Separation or Divorce” – an opportunity for parents to consider the experience of separation or divorce from a child’s perspective, and to explore ideas and strategies for supporting their child through this family change. Two 2-hour sessions.
“Supporting your Child following the Death of a Loved One” – an opportunity for parents to better understand the experience of bereavement from a child’s perspective, and to explore effective ways to support their child through loss in the family. One 2.5 hour session.
All Seasons for Growth® programmes are education programmes, and do not provide counselling or therapy.
Growing Through Grief is available in the following centres:
Programmes are run at:
- Papamoa Family Services, 35E Hartford Avenue, Pāpāmoa
- The Wesley Centre, 13th Avenue, Tauranga
- In some schools by arrangement, in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa
Suggested donation:
$20 per child for 9 session programme (Costs for school programmes vary)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Cate Ashford
Phone: (07) 574 7170
Mobile: 021 857 846
Email: cate.ashford@acw.org.nz
Post: PO Box 11 007 Palm Beach Pāpāmoa 3118
Programmes are run at:
- Te Puke Anglican Church, Jocelyn Street, Te Puke
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
$20 per child for 9 session programme (Costs for school programmes vary)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Claire Roberts
Phone: (07) 573 7159
Mobile: 021 0815 5377
Email: claire.roberts@waiapu.com
Post: PO Box 67, Te Puke
Programmes are run at:
- St. Lukes Anglican Church, Cnr Pukuatua/Amohia Street, Rotorua
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
Koha welcome. (Costs of programmes in schools may be set)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Wendy Leong
Phone: (07) 350 3384
Mobile: 021 814 816
Email: wendy.leong@waiapu.com
Post: PO Box 351, Rotorua
Programmes are run at:
- St. Andrews Anglican Church, Titiraupenga Street, Taupō
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
$20 per child for 9 session programme (Costs for school programmes vary)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Marilyn Collins Dawson
Mobile: 021 767 548
Email: marilyn.collinsdawson@waiapu.com
Post: PO Box 767, Taupō 3351
Programmes are run at:
- Te Hapara Family Services, 776 Childers Road, Gisborne
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
Koha welcomed. Contact the Coordinator for any charges relating to the adult and parenting programmes.
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Nicole West
Phone: (06) 868 4233
Mobile: 021 814 810
Email: nicole.west@acw.org.nz
Post: 776 Childers Road, Gisborne
Programmes are run at:
- Community venues in Napier and Hastings
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
$30 per child for children’s programme (costs for school programmes vary). Contact the Coordinator for any charges relating to the adult and parenting programmes.
Programmes include:
- Exploring the seasons of grief (for adults)
- Understanding change, loss, and grief (Professional development seminar)
- Supporting your child following a separation or divorce (Parent/caregiver workshops)
- Supporting your child following a death of someone they love (Parent/caregiver workshops)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Sandie Speeden
Phone: (06) 873 4962
Mobile: 027 555 6707
Email: sandie.speeden@acw.org.nz
Post: PO Box 1036, Hastings
Coordinator: Susan Haldane
Phone: (06) 873 4962
Mobile: 021 581 512
Email: susan.haldane@acw.org.nz
Post: PO Box 1036, Hastings
Programmes are run at:
- Community venues in Waipawa, Waipukurau and Takapau
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
Koha welcomed. Contact the Coordinator for any charges relating to the adult and parenting programmes.
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Sally White
Phone: 0800 732 7660
Mobile: 021 751 814
Email: sally.white@acw.org.nz
Post: PO Box 91, Waipawa, Central Hawke’s Bay
Programmes are run at:
- 8 Ward Street, Dannevirke
Suggested donation:
Koha welcome. (Costs of programmes in schools may be set). Contact the Coordinator for any charges relating to the adult and parenting programmes.
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Lynne Ellingham-Boyd
Phone: (06) 374 7070
Mobile: 021 621 883
Email: lynne.ellingham@acw.org.nz
Programmes are run at:
- Hiona St. Stephens Anglican Church, Church Street, Opotiki
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
$20 per child for 9 session programme (Costs for school programmes vary)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Coordinator: Robyn Hahipene
Phone: 027 955 9837
Email: robyn.hahipene@waiapu.com
Post: PO Box 453, Opotiki
Programmes are run at:
- Whakatāne Anglican Methodist Parish, Domain Road, Whakatāne
- In some schools by arrangement.
Suggested donation:
$20 per child for 9 session programme (Costs for school programmes vary)
For more information or for enrolments please contact the Co-ordinator. All enquiries are welcome.
Calls may be taken by answer phone – please leave a message so your call can be returned.
Seasons for Growth® is wholly owned by Good Grief Limited. The Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington manages and oversees the licence for Seasons for Growth® in New Zealand on behalf of Good Grief Limited.