Introduction
Presbyterian Support Central is a long-established New Zealand charitable organisation providing aged care, retirement living, family services and community support across the lower North Island.
History and Background
Presbyterian Support Central traces its origins to 1909, when Reverend Dr James Gibb initiated a project to support vulnerable children at a time when New Zealand did not have an established public welfare system.
Over more than a century, the organisation expanded from its early child welfare work into a major provider of social services, aged care and retirement living. It now operates across Taranaki, Whanganui, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Wairarapa and the Wellington region.
Presbyterian Support Central is part of the wider Presbyterian Support network in New Zealand. Although its history is connected to the Presbyterian Church, its services are available to people from all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
The organisation currently delivers its principal services through two specialist brands: Enliven, which supports older people, and Family Works, which works with children, young people and families.
Mission and Purpose
Presbyterian Support Central aims to support and care for people during the most vulnerable periods of their lives and create lasting, positive change.
Its work is focused on building safe, strong and connected communities in which children are protected, families receive appropriate support and older people can live with dignity, independence and meaningful social connections.
The organisation’s approach is grounded in compassion, respect, inclusion and aroha. It seeks to uphold the mana and dignity of every person using its services.
Its primary focus areas are aged care, dementia care, retirement living, counselling, social work, child and family safety, parenting assistance, youth support, community well-being and services for vulnerable people.
Presbyterian Support Central employs more than 1,000 people and is assisted by hundreds of volunteers across the lower North Island.
Governance and Structure
Presbyterian Support Central operates as a charitable, not-for-profit organisation governed by a board.
The board provides strategic oversight, monitors organisational performance and helps ensure that the organisation meets its charitable responsibilities. Board members contribute experience in areas such as governance, finance, health, community services and organisational leadership.
The chief executive leads the organisation’s operations and works with an executive and operational leadership team. These teams oversee service delivery, clinical leadership, finance, human resources, property, information technology, fundraising, marketing, communications and organisational administration.
A board secretary supports governance processes and helps ensure that appropriate policies, administrative systems and procurement arrangements are maintained across Presbyterian Support Central, Enliven and Family Works.
The organisation publishes annual and financial reports outlining its activities, community outcomes, financial position and organisational performance. Its 2024/25 Annual Report acknowledges the contribution of board members, employees, partners, supporters and funding organisations to the progress made during the year.
Funding and Grants
Presbyterian Support Central finances its work through a combination of government service contracts, fees for aged care and retirement services, donations, grants, fundraising campaigns, investment or property-related income and philanthropic gifts.
As a not-for-profit organisation, it reinvests its resources in services for children, families, older people and communities rather than distributing profits to private shareholders.
Government contracts help finance eligible social services and care programmes, while service charges contribute to residential care, retirement living and other specialist support.
Public donations help the organisation provide services and additional assistance that may not be completely covered by government contracts or service revenue. Presbyterian Support Central conducts fundraising appeals and encourages regular giving, one-time donations and legacy gifts.
Bequests are another important source of long-term support. Individuals can include Presbyterian Support Central, Enliven or Family Works in their wills, allowing their estates to continue supporting children, families and older people.
The organisation has also worked to strengthen its philanthropic income. A fundraising pilot introduced at the Enliven Kowhainui Home in Whanganui explored ways to expand support from residents, families and local communities.
James Gibb Fund
The James Gibb Fund is one of Presbyterian Support Central’s principal community grant-making mechanisms.
It provides grants for community organisations and church initiatives that support vulnerable people and align with the organisation’s charitable purpose.
Eligible activities can include community initiatives assisting people experiencing vulnerability, projects delivered by Presbyterian churches or related groups, and small-scale support services reaching underserved communities.
Applications are welcomed from registered organisations, churches and community groups operating in Greater Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatū, Wairarapa and Whanganui. Applicants must consult the current guidelines and application requirements before seeking funding.
The fund is named after Reverend Dr James Gibb, whose 1909 initiative to assist vulnerable children marked the beginning of Presbyterian Support Central.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Enliven Central
Enliven delivers aged care and retirement services designed to help older people live with independence, choice, dignity and a sense of belonging.
Its services include rest-home care, hospital-level care, respite care, dementia support, retirement villages, day programmes and short-term recovery services.
Enliven follows an elder-centred philosophy that recognises older people as active participants in decisions about their own lives. Residents are encouraged to retain personal routines, relationships, interests and connections with their communities.
The organisation’s retirement villages provide independent living with access to community life and additional care when required. Its homes and villages are located across the lower North Island.
Dementia and Specialist Aged Care
Enliven provides person-centred support for people living with dementia. Its approach seeks to create familiar, supportive environments where residents can exercise choice and participate in meaningful daily activities.
Cashmere Heights in Johnsonville reopened in May 2024 as a home for people living with dementia after being temporarily closed in 2021 because of nursing shortages.
The reopened facility provided capacity for up to 33 residents requiring dementia-level care. The project was named runner-up in the Health and Wellbeing category of the Wellington Community Awards in July 2024.
Family Works Central
Family Works provides social services for children, teenagers, parents and families experiencing challenges.
Its vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to be a place where every child is safe, families are strong and communities are connected.
Services include counselling and therapy, social work, advocacy, parenting education, family violence prevention, safety programmes, school-based services and youth mentoring.
Family Works uses Te Ara Whānau, or Family Solutions, as its service approach. This model is strengths-based and solutions-focused, engaging the wider family while providing support appropriate to individual circumstances.
Counselling and Social Work
Family Works counsellors assist children, young people, adults and families experiencing grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, family conflict and other emotional or social challenges.
Social workers provide practical assistance, advocacy and connections with relevant community services. Their work addresses immediate needs while helping families develop their strengths and create more stable circumstances.
Family Safety and Violence Prevention
Family Works provides programmes intended to improve safety, prevent family violence and support people affected by harmful behaviour.
Depending on local availability and individual needs, assistance may include counselling, education, safety planning, family support and referrals to specialist services.
The organisation works with children and adults to address the effects of violence and strengthen relationships that promote safety and well-being.
Parenting and Youth Support
Parenting services help caregivers develop practical skills, understand children’s needs and build healthier family relationships.
School-based and youth mentoring services provide young people with trusted support, encouragement and opportunities to develop confidence.
These programmes recognise that improving outcomes for children often requires working with parents, caregivers, schools and the wider whānau.
Volunteering and Community Participation
Volunteers assist Presbyterian Support Central across its Enliven and Family Works services. Their contributions include companionship for older people, assistance with activities, event support and other forms of community involvement.
Volunteering opportunities are available in regions including Greater Wellington, Taranaki and Whanganui. Volunteers complement the work of professional nurses, social workers, counsellors, healthcare assistants and support employees.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Presbyterian Support Central’s impact spans the life course, from helping children and families overcome difficult circumstances to ensuring that older people receive compassionate care and remain connected to their communities.
Through Family Works, the organisation provides counselling, family safety interventions, social work, advocacy, parenting education and youth support. These services are designed to help children feel safer, strengthen family relationships and improve long-term well-being.
Through Enliven, older people receive residential, hospital, dementia, respite and recovery care. Retirement villages and day programmes provide additional opportunities for independent living, social participation and meaningful activity.
The reopening of Cashmere Heights demonstrates how the organisation responds to unmet care needs by restoring specialist dementia capacity within the Wellington community.
The James Gibb Fund extends Presbyterian Support Central’s impact beyond its directly operated services. Grants enable churches, registered organisations and community groups to implement smaller initiatives for vulnerable and underserved people.
The organisation’s geographic reach also contributes to its impact. Services are delivered through Family Works offices, Enliven homes and retirement communities across Wellington, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Horowhenua, Manawatū and Whanganui.
Annual reporting provides information about organisational performance, financial results and community outcomes across both Enliven and Family Works. These reports support transparency and allow supporters, service users and funding partners to understand how resources are being used.
Conclusion
Presbyterian Support Central is one of New Zealand’s longest-serving social support organisations, with a history extending back to 1909.
Through Enliven, Family Works and the James Gibb Fund, it provides aged care, retirement living, counselling, family support, community services and financial assistance for aligned local initiatives.
Its not-for-profit model, professional workforce, volunteer network and community partnerships allow it to support vulnerable people while promoting dignity, safety, independence and stronger family relationships.
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