Thriving through togetherness

“People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world,” goes the song. Have you noticed that spending time with good friends or being with a group of people who share your interests leaves you with a sense of well-being?

We humans are intrinsically social creatures. Being connected with others nurtures positive self-esteem, keeps our brains stimulated and can provide emotional and physical support. It also helps broaden our interests and engagement with the world around us and can even help us live longer.

Joining a group can be a great way to develop friendships and share life experiences. It is also an opportunity to be exposed to different perspectives and interact with people from other backgrounds and cultures, which encourages empathy, tolerance and appreciation.

For those looking for a group to be part of, Marlborough has an extraordinary array of options available, no matter your age, interests or abilities, as Adrienne Matthews finds out.

The Cultural Collective

Marlborough is a multicultural region, with people from all over the globe making it their home. Since 2021, members of the Cultural Collective have been meeting weekly at the Community Hub. During Covid times, Michele Cox was working as a refugee support person for the Red Cross. There were a number of Columbian people arriving who were keen on sewing, so Michelle and others got them together, and with the help of sewing machines from REAP Marlborough, taught them how to sew. “They were eager to make reusable masks, and that progressed to teaching them how to do alterations to clothing purchased from op shops,” she says.

“Rohingya refugees started arriving from Myanmar and wanted to join, so we moved to a larger space in the Marlborough Community Centre.”

They now have people from a range of cultures who come together to sew with the help of a great bunch of volunteers. One week, they work on their own clothing projects and the next week, the focus is on something for the community. Lately, they have been repurposing woollen blankets which go to the paediatric ward at the hospital for mothers who don’t have enough warm bedding for their children.

The group has been successful at providing a safe space for women to meet regularly. Many have been through considerable trauma and are without extended family support, so they appreciate the regular contact with the volunteers. “They tell us they feel so grateful for the support the Marlborough community has given them and want to give something back,” says Michele.

“We are grateful to people who donate sewing equipment and fabric, and it is our goal that some of these women will soon be able to operate small businesses repairing garments and making clothing to sell.”

Marlborough Youth Trust (MYT)

The Marlborough Youth Trust is actively engaged in providing many opportunities for young people aged 12 to 24 to interact socially through a range of groups and programmes that offer support, activities and the chance to create new friendships.

The trust’s base is the Myspace Youth Centre in Blenheim at 18 Kinross Street. Jo Lane, a qualified youth worker, has been the centre’s manager for the last five years.

“Connections are so important to young people,” she says. “Here, we give them a safe place to come and connect with youth workers and each other through providing a range of activities such as coffee making, games, crafts, music and movies. If they are getting ready to leave school, our Youth Employability Programme helps them prepare CVs, and we invite speakers from a range of organisations to provideinformation about local jobs and industries. Most nights, Myspace has various activities going on.”

MYT has also run the CACTUS youth grit and resilience programme with the support of Marlborough District Council, NZ Police and Marlborough Lines. MYT Youth worker Maxine Sweeney works alongside the Rainbow Group, who meet once a week at Myspace. “They are self-motivated, with the older members taking on leadership roles,” she says.

“They appreciate having a place to go where they feel comfortable, and they’ve got a cool circle of friendship going.”

The MYT welcomes donations and contributions of food as they continue to support the young people of the region.

Harakeke Hubs

There’s plenty of research to show that loneliness is a big factor in diminishing people’s wellbeing, and that's one of the reasons why Harakeke Hubs coordinator Ailsa Carey says she wanted to set up the Harakeke Hubs. “So people can come together for a cup of tea and be connected to something or some group that might give them another interest. At the meetings we introduce them to the Marlborough Community Directory, which is a one stop-shop for information about the array of organisations in our region, including support services and health care.”

Currently there are Harakeke Hubs meeting in Blenheim, Pelorus and Rai Valley. Becky Chin and her business partner, Dr. Shilinka Smith moved to Marlborough recently and went to their first Harakeke Hub meeting in January. “It was so welcoming,” says Becky. “It was a great way to learn about what is available here, and the experience was so positive. It helped us to feel part of the community.”

“There is so much going on here, and to learn about it all would take ages to find all the information out through websites. This was such a good way to access information about things we were interested in as well as being a great place to meet people,” adds Shilinka.

Thanks to their experience at the Hub, the pair, who run a social enterprise, now feel they can make their own contributions to the Marlborough community.

Picton has a similar hub operating at the Picton Library and Service Centre – Waitohi Whare Mātauranga – called the Company Café, which is a popular gathering place for the community.

Maternal Mental Well-Being Marlborough

Fostering good connections is important at all stages of life, and particularly for those approaching the birth of their baby. Maternal Mental Well-Being Marlborough (MMWM) began with a small group in 2011 and was joined by local counsellor Tatiana Ceban in 2013 to support mothers with postnatal depression and anxiety.

MMWM now provides essential support and tools for both mothers and mothers-to-be, empowering them to manage their mental health through free courses for both pre-natal and postnatal mothers.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” says Mandy Li, chairperson of MMWM. “Among the services we offer are therapeutic groups which teach women tools to handle what can be a tough transition to motherhood for some. The group provides reassurance while also nurturing valuable parent-to-parent relationships at what can be a challenging time, particularly for new parents.”

Integral to the success of the groups are the volunteer ‘baby cuddlers’, a generous group who care for the babies while mothers attend their sessions.

“We welcome sponsors and kind people who are happy to spend two or three hours a week holding a baby,” she says.

“By supporting our mothers, we support the entire family on this special and precious journey, creating a better future for generations and a stronger, closer community.”

The Menz Shed

Menz Sheds are an opportunity for men with time on their hands to enjoy some camaraderie while making and repairing things. The Marlborough region has five Menz Sheds located in Blenheim, Havelock, Rarangi, Picton and Renwick.

The Blenheim Menz Shed has just celebrated its 12-year anniversary. “We have building and engineering workshops along with a place to refurbish bicycles,” explains president Dave Oliver.

In addition to men undertaking their own individual projects, the group is involved in community ones.

“We’ve got a fairly big bike recycling program going,” says Dave. “We get bikes donated, clean them up and fix them before they go back into the community to people who need them.”

Other projects have included repairing and building furniture and fittings for individuals and charitable organisations, schools and kindergartens, building traps for predator programs and laying non-slip matting on a Grove Town Lagoon walkway.

“The shed attracts men from all walks of life and is a great place for guys to have a bit of company. It’s also a good way to share experience, upskill and learn something new,” says Dave.

People who realise they need people in Marlborough are spoilt for choice with the range of groups available where they can get together with others, share experiences and interests, and develop great friendships. Whether you are looking to learn a new skill, find emotional support, or simply meet new friends, Marlborough’s array of social groups provides something for everyone.