Sharks Have Heart, together with the Woolooware Bay team, Capital Bluestone and Aoyuan International, have taken their commitment to the Community and Christmas spirit to new heights by again hosting a Christmas party for families with children who have been supported in 2020 by Sutherland Shire Family Services, a local domestic violence and trauma support service.
The Christmas party was attended by over 30 local children, who were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Sharks representatives, eat “party food”, celebrate with a variety of games and receive gifts from Santa.
For many of these families, Christmas doesn’t necessarily bring the joy normally associated with the occasion, as a result of fractured family arrangements and financial struggle, with SSFS providing opportunities to families to create new memories, with assistance with donated gifts to help reduce the financial burden.
In what has been a challenging year for many, SSFS have supporting over 100 families in the Shire who have sought help in escaping domestic violence or faced significant financial or emotional challenges or disadvantage.
The SSFS team provide casework support, connecting families with available support and resources, education and therapeutic programs to help them build parenting and communication skills in ensuring they have the tools to maintain positive family relationships.
The Sharks and Aoyuan through Woolooware Bay, have strong ties to the local family support service, sponsoring their Love Bites Respectful Relationships program for High School’s, Engadine District Youth Services, as well as Building Resilience in Children, a specialised domestic violence intensive therapeutic reparative program.
“This partnership reinforces our commitment to families and young people in the Shire,” said Sharks Have Heart General Manager George Nour.
“Through our existing relationship with Sutherland Shire Family Services, we have seen the wonderful work they do in the community and the impact it has, and it’s our pleasure to be able to do small gestures like this Christmas party to really brighten this time of year for families who are doing it particularly tough.”
SSFS CEO Ashleigh Daines added; “The long-term relationship that SSFS have with the Sharks and Woolooware Bay is something that we really treasure, and moments like this, where you see families who have really worked this year to improve their circumstances and heal from their trauma, come together to have a bit of fun – it really is heart-warming, and a wonderful way to finish the year off.”
