HEART Phone Tree
The HEART Movement’s Response to Lockdown 2021
In the knowledge that - along with stress levels - family violence in the homes of Tāmaki increase during lockdown, we look to be proactive and think outside the square.
With the amazing support of Foundation North, we have created a community "Phone Tree" as a response to lockdown 2021. Community members who care, sign up to make contact with between five and ten people in Tāmaki - from one family member / friend / neighbour / community member to another - just checking in on how life is going for them.
Although we want real conversations to happen, there’s no need for professional expertise or therapy… If you come to the conversation with good intentions, then you are exactly who can hold these conversations. The aim is just to connect people ❤️
How it works...
The phone calls might take just five minutes of your day, you can ask one of our Good Questions (which we’ll be posting on our Facebook Group) or you can chat about anything! You can call a different person each day, or the same person - just call people you know will want to hear from you.
We’d like for you to start the conversation with, “Kia ora ___________, I’m calling because I’m part of the HEART Phone Tree - our aim is to connect people.”
We’d like for you to end the conversation with, “Do you need any support over this time?” (refer to the helplines at the bottom of this page if you need to).
We hope the Phone Tree will give some people in Tāmaki a feeling of being more connected - especially whānau who don't have a wide circle of contacts.
We hope people will make some friendships and build better connections in their community ❤️
Active Listening / Good Communication
The aim of the Phone Tree is to increase connection in Tāmaki. We would like the conversations to follow our Koru groups guidelines being: No judgement, no advice! Simply, if you are a good listener, you are the perfect Phone Tree caller.
Click through to read some helpful tips on being an effective, active listener. These have been taken from a resource from Peter Thorburn, Managing Director at Meth Education and Solution Services LTD. Peter has loads of experience in many facets of the social sector and we are privileged to say, he is a big part of the HEART Movement.
Help / Safety
There are a huge number of supports available throughout lockdown and we are trying to spread the helplines below far and wide should they be helpful.
Some great ones to be aware of are,
For emergencies: 111
For COVID-19: 0800 358 5453 or https://covid19.govt.nz or Healthline: 0800 611 116
For kai support in Tāmaki: 0800 2POTAKA or Kai Collective Project (on Facebook)
Free call or text 1737 any time for mental health support from a trained counsellor
Family Violence
Shine – 0508 744 633 or their website here
Womens Refuge – 0800 REFUGE
Hey Bro Helpline (for men who feel they’re going to harm a loved one or whanau member) – 0800 HEY BRO (0800 439 276)
Care and Protection
Oranga Tamariki – 0508 FAMILY
Alcohol and Other Drugs Helplines
Alcohol & Drugs – 0800 787 797
CADS – 09 845 1818
Narcotics Anonymous – 0800 628 632
Alcoholics Anonymous – 0800 229 6757
Mental Health Helplines
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 / text 4357
Youthline – 0800 376 633
Outline (LGBT) – 0800 688 5463
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Depression – 0800 111 757
Suicide Prevention – 0508 828 8865
There are LOTS of other helplines to help with anything that’s going on, check out the Mental Health Foundation helpline page.
And for HEAPS of tools, support and ideas: www.allright.org.nz
We are aware there are some risks to this activity and are always open to ideas to make it better. HEART stands for healthy relationships in Tāmaki so in these challenging times, we are open to having difficult conversations. If something comes up that you are worried about, please let Ren know ASAP - 020 4141 2849
The Process
Caller is emailed document and has a read through all pages
Caller completes google form and signs consent (link is at the end of this document)
Caller can start making connections in Tāmaki ❤️
Caller is added to the Facebook Group if they want to be
From there...
Caller lets us know if they know anyone else who would like to join as a caller!
Caller shares (anonymous) stories if they’d like to, for our reporting
Caller lets us know if anything comes up which concerns them
Awhi for our Community
We are able to offer callers a $50 Prezzy Card if they make five substantial connections OR a $100 Prezzy Card if they make ten connections!
As well as that, when you make those connections, please listen out to whether there is any need for awhi for the whānau / individual. If you are hearing a need, each caller is able to give,
Up to two $50 Prezzy Cards AND
Up to two Adult Wellbeing Packs AND
Up to two Children’s Wellbeing Packs!
If you would like the HEART Movement to organise any of these, please complete this google form.
Other HEART Support
The HEART Movement has put LOTS in place over lockdown. If the people you contact are sounding like they could do with more options for connection, be sure to tell them about...
Koru Groups - These are peer support groups which operate just as they do in real life, by upholding our rules - no judgement and no advice. Join us on zoom...
Facebook Lives - Our Change Agents have been going LIVE on Facebook at 12pm each weekday while we’re in lockdown to talk about our wellbeing. Tune in or have a scroll through our playlists on Facebook.
HEART Trainings - Lockdown is a great time to do some learning! Check out our Events Page on Facebook to see what community trainings we have coming up… Places can be limited so be sure to register on the links in each event description.
Sign Up!
If you’ve read all the above and think it all sounds great, then please join us!
On the form, you’ll input a few details for yourself and confirm you understand everything about this kaupapa. And please feel free to share the idea of the HEART Phone Tree! We would love for the roots and branches of our Phone Tree to stretch far and wide…
If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to make contact with Ren - our Leader for Change.