Seven years ago the Riverslea Community Trust in Hastings started out providing kai for hungry tamariki who turned up to school with no breakfast or lunch.
Now the trust run by Roberta Karangaroa provides a host of support programmes – with a particular focus on skills training and support for offenders on community work sentences.
The trust operates out of Riverslea Primary School providing the school and wider community with labour and help, and its programmes help offenders to reduce their re-offending.
Roberta and a team of volunteers teach offenders skills that a lot of people take for granted, such as filling out forms, budgeting and job interview techniques.
“You’d be surprised at the amount of people who are illiterate or cannot comprehend the written word,” says Roberta. “This can often be a contributing factor to their offending.”
Another trust programme is giving offenders the chance to learn how to make and restore furniture – including worn and damaged furniture from the school.
Roberta says she’s seen huge positive changes through the simple process of building and caring for something that is the offender’s own work.
“I’ve seen it lift the wairua and self-esteem of some of the toughest cookies and as a result of the simple process of restoring furniture they often relate it back to themselves and how they conduct their lives. “
Probation Officer Shayne Walker describes Roberta as a “straight shooter” who has inspired many over the years and empowered them to make positive changes.
Many have gone on to full-time employment using the skills learned at the trust – including horticulture, cooking, cleaning and being a teacher 
aide.
“One of our wahine showed great talent in the kitchen but had no formal qualifications,” says Roberta. “We supported her and helped her into a full-time role as a chef at a local cafe.
“Her whole persona and view of life has changed and she is now a much more positive person who is making something of herself.”
Some offenders come back to lend a helping hand even after they finish their sentences, says Roberta.
“We are like whanau to many offenders. They appreciate the support network so much that they come back in their own time.”