For over three months Year 12 student Grace Fotheringhame has been leading a Loves Me Not inspired project to support women in abusive relationships.

Loves Me Not is a police run programme that teachers Year 12 students across New Zealand about healthy relationships and consent. Students participating in the programme are invited to apply for scholarships from the Sophie Elliott Foundation to support the teachings of the programme in our area. Grace applied and received the full scholarship amount of $500. Together with others students including Shawna Rae and Jess Harray they have put together over 30 support packages for women who are supported by the Womens’ Refuge. Grace said, “The main outcome that we hope to achieve is to raise awareness of Domestic Violence and help out a small percentage of women that are struggling or require assistance at this time.”

There has been overwhelming College and community support for this initiative, with staff and parents donating to the project as well as incredible support from local businesses. As Grace commented - “We as Year 12 students believed that we could accomplish this activity successfully and just want to do our part in helping those who need it.”

The thirty packages are branded as Daisy Love packages because of the daisy usage in the “loves me, loves me not” branding for Lesley Elliott’s programme. Each Daisy Love package contains body wash, body lotion, deodorant, honey, toothpaste, a tooth brush, beauty face wipes, sanitary pads, tampons, shaver sets, makeup boxes, facial masks, fabric masks, hand sanitiser, soap, lip balm, a pack of King Seeds, a face cloth, shampoo and conditioner, coffee, and food snacks. They are practical and uplifting, and hopefully will send a message of care and support to women in need. These products were provided either free or with significant discount from local business. Twenty bags are going to the Womens’ Refuge and ten bags are going with our local Loves Me Not Coordinator Senior Constable Emma Buxton to the WBOP Police Domestic Violence Unit to distribute. Emma has been connected to our College for twelve years via the programme, and has been a huge support to us in the project. We were very excited to send her off with these goodies.

Emma Buxton commented, “I am so proud to see that Loves Me Not is not just a one day project. What Grace has achieved is the Loves Me Not principles in action, supporting women in need so generously with her Daisy Love care packages. I acknowledge the huge amount of time that she has put into supporting her community.”

We wish to thank in Katikati - Countdown, FCL, Hammer Hardware, Kings Seeds, Vivace Hair, Katikati Hair Design and BeeNZ and in Tauranga,  the support of Wild Kiwi, Life Pharmacy and the Chemist Warehouse is acknowledged with gratitude.