Community Empowerment and MATES

Community Empowerment and MATES

The MATES Men’s Network or MATES as it is familiarly known, is about community empowerment. By definition, this means that MATES exists to support, encourage and help grow our community by offering the much needed support to men going through crisis; “Men Empowering Men Empowering Community.”

MATES has been operating its pilot program for over 2 years in the Taranaki region with tremendous results and enormous social impact; as lives have been saved, male role models created after finding hope and new direction, and great community support has developed.

After successfully running 3 centres in Taranaki (Okato, Hawera and New Plymouth) and rapidly progressing to our target of 5 centres in a regional area with Stratford and Waitara, other regions have shown considerable interest. MATES are now heading towards a national launch of its Community Empowerment Program early in 2012.

The main hub of MATES operations are in New Plymouth CBD opposite the city library. These premises have proved to be a great success in gathering a focal point of energy for further growth. Regular committee, development, organisational, training & trust meetings have taken place here, as well as outreach meetings and social get-togethers. The centre also because of its central location provides a drop-in centre for those in need and for networking with other community organisations. MATES are quickly outgrowing these premises and looking for larger and more iconic location to further marketing and create accessibility and events for the local community.

The MATES programs include those that support individuals living with mental health challenges, supporting men experiencing major life change, isolation and crisis such as loss and grief, relationship breakdown and lack of focus and direction, personal development and facilitator training. Programs also include those for women wishing to develop themselves working in alignment with the MATES development program to help empower community together with their male counterparts.

MATES is the result of over 25 years of personal development training and specifically over 12 years of operation and development both in Australia & New Zealand. MATES save lives through on-going support, encouragement and Mateship; not only through the prevention of suicide, but in helping men develop a new outlook & direction to empower community.

With an increasing level of suicide & attempted suicide in New Zealand & across the world, the enormous emotional impact of suicide costs our community dearly. Just in pure economics; each suicide costs our community more than $450,000 totalling over $2.6 Billion annually. MATES are working towards an operating budget of just 0.1% to dramatically reduce this incredible hidden cost to our community simply by saving lives in a time proven program.

MATES encourage support and financial assistance from local, regional and national government agencies, businesses & corporations, all working together under the MATES brand, to promote healthy  empowered communities; supporting youth, children, women, men, minority groups (including ethnic minorities) beyond sex, race, creed & culture.