CELEBRATING
25
Spring 2014
Newsletter
YEARS
CELEBRATING 25 years
Taking them by the hand, they helped them up… they became strong… and began to walk. Acts 3:7,8 (para).
Quarterly
Prize Draw
– Client’s answer
to prayer!
Motivated client wins
Job without meeting his
new employer!
The last winner says it was literally an
answer to prayer! After hearing that
she’d won a prize, the client texted the
following message to Julie, Budgeting
Coordinator.
“Our cupboards were bare and I had
no money for food. I rang 0800Hungry
on Tuesday and it arrived today. My 13
year daughter said, “I guess praying
does work Mum. I prayed we would
somehow have lots of food and then
these people brought us food and one
of our cousins has sent some groceries
she ordered on line for us. So yes, we
are blessed and have a merciful God
who answers children’s prayers with
abundance. How amazing!”
“He used our phone and other resources. He secured
full-time employment amazingly without even meeting or
having an interview with his new employer!
Get Help with
Kingdom Resources!
Kingdom Resources is in its 25th year of helping people
in need. Our team consists of volunteers from churches
throughout Canterbury as well as our own staff.
We do this through:
•
Budget Advice
•
Free Budget Education Courses such as
Making Money Matter
•
Professional Career Support and CV Preparation
•
Courses include:
Confidence for Life and Career (for women);
Getting Work Ready (for women)
Men @ Work
•
Access to interest free loans
Last year 2,800 people (adults and their children)
benefited from our services, and we know the skills
they learned were passed onto many more.
For More Information:
If you need help, or can support us in any way
with your time or through a donation, please phone
332 1700 or email [email protected].
PO Box 33285, Christchurch 8244
P: 03 332 1700 | F: 03 332 1600 | E: [email protected]
Please read
me, then pass
me on.
REVIEW
“One client came into the office with no accommodation, no
transport and no job. Over the course of the next week and
a half, he came in most days and was extremely motivated
to find work.
“He was offered a full-time job, his new contract was emailed
to him and the new employer went a step further by picking
the client up from our Kingdom Resources’ office to take
him to his place of work. The icing on the cake for the client
was that he secured a $3000 grant from Work and Income
too! One happy client,” said Jonathan, Employment Coach.
Each quarter, Kingdom Resources’
budgeting clients who complete
a feedback questionnaire go into
a draw to win a $50 food voucher.
A YEAR IN
www.kingdomresources.org.nz
ATING 25 YEARS
CELEBR
&
$4M INTEREST
FREE LOANS
200 people helped Kingdom Resources to celebrate its 25th
anniversary at Addington Events Centre earlier this year. As the
party atmosphere grew, Chairman Alastair Tennant announced that
the Trust had just reached $4 million interest free loans!
Hosted by Reg Garters, it was a fantastic occasion with
Budget Advisors, supporters, prayer partners, funders,
volunteers, staff – present and past, and Trustees
attending this special event.
Guest speaker, Howard Taylor, a former South West
Baptist Church pastor (previously Spreydon Baptist
Church) related how his ‘crazy’ vision of an interest free
bank, the Kingdom Resources Trust, became reality
against all the odds because it was clear that “God was
in it!”
out of debt and explained that today she is not only on top of her
own finances, but she now holds a degree and has a great career.
Susan Gill, former Kingdom Resources employee and today the
vicar at the Anglican Church on the Hill in Richmond, Nelson,
spoke of her time working at Kingdom Resources. She
was very thankful for the support and encouragement
that John, General Manager, and the rest of the
IT WAS
Kingdom Resources’ team had given her as she
CLEAR THAT
embarked on a new venture that led to her becoming
a vicar. Her relationship with Kingdom Resources
GOD WAS
continues today, as Education Coordinator Unicia, has
IN IT
just trained 10 new budget advisors from a group of
churches in Nelson, with Susan spearheading the venture.
Other speakers included Mata, who said how much her life was
transformed after attending a Confidence for Life and Career
Course for Women as her confidence had grown hugely. Young
mum, Shay, described how her budget advisor had helped her get
Special thanks also goes to the House of Travel Ferrymead for
their kind donation of a weekend away in Hanmer in a prize draw.
Congratulations went to Gwennyth van Petegem for having the
winning ticket.
Kingdom Resources is very grateful to everyone who has played a part, however small,
over the past 25 years … and it looks forward to its 50th!
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF BUDGETING ADVICE | SHARON'S LIFE TRANSFORMED | MAKING MONEY MATTER
www.kingdomresources.org.nz
CELEBRATING
A YEAR IN REVIEW
EMPLOYMENT TEAM SERVICES
Over 300 people were helped with one or more employment
needs over the past year. The team, Tony, Lisa and Jonathan
work hard to give clients the skills and assistance they need
in order to take their next step towards employment,
training or a new life direction.
2010
John Exton, General Manager, said, “25 years
ago, thousands of people were struggling to
make ends meet and Kingdom Resources’
goal was to make a difference to the
lives of many in our community. In its first
year it helped about 100 people. Today,
it’s amazing to see that we are now able
to help thousands, thanks to our team of
volunteers, staff and many others who are
involved with us in one way or another.
2014
TONY, LISA, JONATHAN
Sharon’s Life Transformed!
“My life has been transformed and that’s after only two days,” said
Sharon, just after starting Kingdom Resources’ Taking the First Step
course.”
grandparent am I going to be? Am I going to be a person that just
sits around and not do anything? I have a 19 year old daughter. I
want to be vital for her – to have holidays with her and have fun!”
63 years old, with grown up children living at home, Sharon lacked
confidence and self-worth. Sharon’s Work and Income case
manager recommended she attend the Kingdom Resources’
programme, saying that she thought it would be just what
Sharon needed, and she was right!
“My life has hugely changed,” said Sharon. I felt all of a sudden I
was worth something. I started doing exercise and taking the dogs
for a walk. The house is tidy. I’m motivated. I make meals. I buy
groceries.”
two days
Sharon said that tutor Lisa had encouraged the group to think about
what they wanted out of live and it was then when she knew things
had to change. “I thought about if I had grandchildren, what sort of
507
158
613
Over 1,600 people (adults
and their children) were
helped with one to one
budget advice this year,
plus a further 470 people
were helped over the
phone. That’s 35% more
than 10 years ago!
Kingdom Resources’ team
of over 100 budget advisor
volunteers and staff work incredibly hard to try and empower clients
by passing on budgeting tools and tips to help them better manage
their finances. So often people are at the end of their tether when
they come to Kingdom Resources and it’s fantastic to see the clients
escape the debt trap and pass on their new skills to friends a family
– a huge multiplier effect!
and
311
Budgeting Tools Relieve Tension!
728
Julie, Budgeting Coordinator, describes on of the highlights of her
year …
“A couple came to see me. Initially, the wife wanted to sort out their
debt and she managed to persuade her husband to come along too.
COMMUNITY COURSES
There was a lot of tension between them as they listed all their debts
'no' should and mentioned one particular loan shark which was used regularly.
BUDGET CASES
They were struggling to get ahead financially as the husband kept on
be 'now'
getting short term loans. Over the next few appointments, together
Over 2,400 people (adults and their children) were helped with
we formulated a plan and the debt began to clear. They are now
budgeting needs over the past year. Many were given one to one
operating a sustainable budget, they’re no using short term loans
budget advice, others attended one of Kingdom Resources many
and will be debt free in 3 years! Best of all, the tension’s gone, and
budgeting workshops held across the city.
they’re talking to each other nicely again – a real bonus!”
Making Money Matter
Community Workshops
New Budgeting Education Coordinator, Unicia, is delighted that since
she began her role a year ago, over 300 people have attended a
budgeting workshop or programme, in particular the Making Money
Matter course.
The courses run at various venues throughout the city, often at
churches or Work and Income offices.
“I really feel I was meant to be with these women. I
advise every women to go on the course. Lisa is so
bright and friendly. I would like to thank all the people who
give money for this course to run.”
Taking the First Step is an employment course aimed at
women over the age of 25. Training includes CV writing,
interview and job searching skills, along with confidence
building and much more. For more information, contact
[email protected] or phone 332 1700.
One to one budgeting
108
Another huge plus for Sharon was that she really
connected with others on the course. She really hoped
My life has been
there were people she could relate to and there were
transformed and
three others around her own age who she got on very
that’s after only
well with, along with the rest of the group.
The course changed everything for Sharon. “We did
an exercise about who we are now. We talked about
the positive things of who we are such as ‘carers’, ‘good
organisers’ … so many things. It was ‘wow’! I’m all these things, not
just someone’s mum or aunty,” she said. “It was a really inspiring,
positive moment.”
YEARS
KEY
Thankfully, we still get a regular stream of new
budget advisors from churches within our
community, however we still need many more as we strive
to help even more people each year.”
Describing how she felt before attending the course,
she explained, “It was awful. I just couldn’t cope. I’d
hardly do any housework. I’d lie on a sofa, read or
watch TV all day, well 80 per cent of the time. I didn’t
cook meals, I couldn’t be bothered.”
2005
Nearly 3,000 people (adults and their children)
were helped with budgeting or employment
needs over the past year.
BUDGETING
TEAM SERVICES
25
UNICIA
“In one course held at Work and Income recently, we were discussing
how to track and trim a budget, when one attendee decided to make
head start and began writing down her spending for the week on
the Spending Plan worksheet,” explained Unicia. “The attendee
suddenly exclaimed, ‘wow, I know how I can save $50 in a week’,
just after a matter of minutes! We’d been discussing focussing on
priorities and making a choice to change because ‘if you do what
you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got!’ The attendee
was really proud that she saw that she could actually make a change
to her spending, and it was something she could do right away!”
We acknowledge with grateful thanks the huge contribution of the following supporters:
Christchurch City Council - Major Grants • Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) • Croft Print • Dove Charitable Trust • Family and Community Services (FACS) • Farina Thompson Trust
Hyman Marks Trust • Jack & Marjorie Ferrier Charitable Trust • Maurice Carter Charitable Trust • Ministry of Social Development (MSD) • New Zealand Lottery Grants Board • Pub Charity • Springhill/Frimley Foundation
The Canterbury Community Trust • The Lion Foundation • The Timothy Blair Trust • The Southern Trust • The William Toomey Charitable Trust • Tindall Foundation • Vouchers for Volunteers - BP
DONATE NOW
DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ONLINE
www.kingdomresources.org.nz