Save the Children NZ are calling for volunteers to train as Child Friendly Spaces volunteers in the event of an National emergency.
Child-Friendly Spaces is Save the Children's emergency response programme that helps ensure children are safe and protected in evacuation centres where families congregate during disasters.
The training covers the purpose and objectives of CFS: psychosocial support to children and their family within a CFS; encouraging children to practise positive behaviour within a CFS; best practices on site selection, organisation and set-up of the space; and the monitoring and evaluation of CFS.
Training takes one day only (with half day refresher training courses every two years or as necessary). If you agree, your name would be on a National Register and, in the event of an emergency, you may be called upon to assist. However, you are under no obligation to do -it is on a voluntary basis and entirely dependent on your own circumstances at the time.
The next training course will be held in Auckland on the 27th August at the Red Cross Training Centre in Manurewa and another course will be held in Dunedin on the 17th September. If you are interested and are willing and able to help, then please download the CFS Registration form at:
https://savethechildren.org.nz/how-to-help/volunteer/#ChildFriendlySpaces
For Auckland training, please email to Jan.haynes@scnz.org.nz by Friday, 19th August; and for Dunedin training please email to Jessica.gray@scnz.org.nz by Friday 10th September.
Child-Friendly Spaces are a critical component in providing support to children and families in temporary locations following a disaster. They provide a safe place where children can play, socialise, and express themselves under the supervision of caring, trained and background-checked adults. The programme's structured, supervised activities offer comfort to children who are used to daily routines and help strengthen their resilience. These spaces enable parents to have time to register for emergency assistance and to get some much-needed rest. They also provide a forum for sharing valuable child safety and recovery information with families.