On Monday night we were delighted to welcome Chris Martin, the manager of the SuperGrans Charitable Trust in the Wellington region, as our guest speaker. Chris has a background in both nursing and policing, prior to her becoming the general manager of SuperGrans nine years ago. Chris explained the vital work of SuperGrans, a charitable trust that provides practical, one-on-one mentoring to individuals and families. The organisation's mission is to empower people with essential life skills, such as budgeting, cooking, and household management, to help them become more resilient and self-sufficient. Chris emphasised that the service is based on the concept of "kaitiaki mentoring," which involves sharing generational knowledge in a supportive and non-judgmental way.
Standing beside Chris as she spoke on Monday, was Brian Klee, who hearing Chris speak at a meeting at our club a number of years ago, became one of the staff (Supergrans have both paid and volunteer staff), and has now become heavily involved with the financial mentoring side of the organisation's services. They have seen a significant increase in the number of people referred to them or coming through their door this year – about 700 families year to date. They are the only organisation in the Hutt that receives funding from the Ministry of Social Development to provide financial budgeting and mentoring services.
Throughout her talk, Chris shared powerful stories of how the "SuperGrans" volunteers have made a tangible difference in people's lives. She highlighted how a lack of basic skills can be a significant barrier to well-being and how a little guidance can lead to significant, long-lasting change. Her passion for the work and her belief in the power of community were inspiring.
Thank you, Chris, for a wonderful and insightful presentation.
"A Hand Up, Not a Handout: The SuperGrans Philosophy."