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Empowerment Courses

This year we have had five different empowerment courses running – On Track, Explore, Live to the Max, Live to the Max Coffee Group and the Out and About Group (under the cultural worker). All these courses aim to assist our clients to have more control over their lives.

“Live to the Max”

is a 15 week course which assists individuals to make changes in their lives in a supportive group setting. Course facilitators work alongside participants to identify areas of their lives that they want to make changes in, set goals and then meet on a weekly basis with others to work on achieving these goals. “Live to the Max” is divided into two components. The first part of the session has an education component that focuses on an area important to healthy living. For the latest course this included areas such as identity, personality, communication skills, self-esteem, and goal setting. The second section or “Spotlight” focuses on each individual’s goals for the past week. Overall goals have been as varied such as “Reduce my weight by 8 kg through exercise and healthier eating” to “Learn how to and gain confidence in initiating conversations” to “Improve my finances by learning to budget”. What is important is that clients learn how to set realistic goals and are supported in reaching
these.


“Live to the Max Coffee Group”

was started in response to participants of “Live to the Max” expressing disappointment that the course hasn’t been longer. This year we offered the option for past participants to join a coffee group meeting once a fortnight. This has started out on an informal basis with the option for participants to receive support towards goals they may be still working on similar to the “Spotlight” section in the “Live to the Max” course as outlined above.

“Explore”

is a one day a week programme that runs for 10 weeks designed for people who want to make changes in their lives but are perhaps less sure about what changes could be made as compared with those who attend the “Live to the Max” programme. Many “Explore” participants later go on to attend a “Live to the Max” course. Many of those who attend “Explore” have been isolated in their own home due to a psychiatric illness, limited social skills or because of previous responsibilities such as caring for a child. “Explore” provides a safe, structured environment where participants have the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and try different activities such as exploring activities to do in Christchurch, volunteering, creative day, and a “retreat” time where more in depth personal reflection and planning is facilitated.




“On Track”

is a new group started in 2006 arising from the need identified in past empowerment courses for a basic social skills group. The course ran for 12 weeks and included topics such as what is a friend, listening skills, reciprocal conversation, relationships, assertiveness, and initiating friendships. The participants on this course tended to have higher needs than those on the “Live to the Max” and “Explore” courses.