Hard-working offenders on community work sentences have been helping give Waikato Hospice a bold new look.Supervised work parties have been part of a project to demolish the old centre, and build a new one so that all three of the hospice’s divisions, currently scattered around the city, can operate from one central site.
The hospice looks after the terminally ill, and provides a supportive environment for their families. It also provides grief and bereavement counselling, and training for its volunteers.
Project Manager Adele Wilson, from construction company Livingstone, approached CPPS in Hamilton looking for help with the labour-intensive stages of the project.
Offenders have since helped clear out the existing building, remove walls, dig up and lay new concrete, remove carpet, and build retaining walls.
“To date we have had a total of 81 workers over five days assisting with the project,” says Adele. “We have been so impressed by the attitude and work ethic that Livingstone would be prepared to offer one or two of the offenders the opportunity for a future career with our company.”
Offenders had to take special care when removing the building material, as much of it will be sold on to raisefunds for the hospice. Plants and shrubs were also carefully removed to be replanted once the construction of the new building is complete. Before work began the offenders were briefed on the important work that the hospice does. “For many this hits home, as they all know someone who has died from cancer or survived treatment,” says senior community work supervisor Storm Powell.
“Their involvement in this mahi is truly a labour of aroha.”
Hospice CEO Elizabeth Bang says sharing this knowledge with the offenders has made working with them a real pleasure. “From day one they have respected and shared our passion and understand why they are here,” she says. “They have really entered into the spirit.”
While work on this crucial demolition and salvage stage is now finished, it’s expected offenders will continue to help until the new building is finished around the middle of next year.
Photo: Community work offenders have been putting in the hard yards on a project that will see Waikato Hospice’s three sites converge onto one central location.
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ISSN 1178-1327