Some great events on this week! |
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Welcome to another edition our newsletter. We hope you're having a good day. This newsletter is packed full of useful scam prevention tips, events, and much more information. Thanks for sharing a few moments of your day with us. Please give us a call on 04 499 6646 or email info@acwellington.org.nz if you would like to get in touch with us.
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STAYING SAFE CLASS FOR OLDER DRIVERS - UPCOMING CLASSES |
Staying Safe is a FREE classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users. Age Concern runs these workshops in partnership with NZTA/Waka Kotahi. They run from 10am till 2pm with lunch provided! Registration is required. To register and for more information, call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz
Next classes: - Wednesday 15 May, Seatoun
- Wednesday 22 May, Upper Hutt
- Thursday 30 May, Tawa
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TEA AND TECH, AND SCAM PREVENTION |
Baffled by technology? Want to learn more about avoiding online scams? Come to our Tea and Tech workshop. Tea and Tech is a free Age Concern event where friendly volunteers and staff will help you one-on-one with your tech device.
Want to learn how to do Internet banking? Need to connect with the grandkids on WhatsApp? Bring your digital device and get help from some friendly people.
There will also be a special seminar on avoiding online scams.
Come to Tea and Tech if you need help with:
• Getting connected with friends and family online (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.)
• Doing online banking
• How to watch TV on the Internet
• Doing your grocery shopping online
• Using email and visiting websites
• Learning more about online scams and how to avoid them
When: Wednesday 27 March, 10:30am till 2pm (two sessions available)
Where: Hutt Bridge Club, Epuni, Lower Hutt
Cost: FREE! But you must register today using the blue button below (or by calling 04 499 6646)
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Age Concern Wellington Region Trust is currently looking for a Board Chairperson. This is a voluntary role.
In addition to the traditional responsibilities of chairing Board meetings, the key role of the Chairperson is to oversee and ensure the organisational governance and responsibilities of the Board are achieved.
Our Trust Deed specifies that trustees of Age Concern Wellington Region Trust will ensure: - The strategies, objectives and targets reflect a commitment of continued development and financial stability.
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The appropriate systems and processes are in place to manage performance and identify and manage potential risk.
- The development and maintenance of a transparent financial management system that is compliant with accepted accounting standards and policies.
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The Trust’s monies and other assets are used in a manner that is consistent with the objects and as may be agreed by the Board or by resolution passed at a general meeting.
- The Trust and its representatives always function within the relevant legal and social framework of the sector and in compliance with the Trust Deed.
The Chairperson’s role is to oversee these functions through leadership of the Board. If you would like to find out more about this unique opportunity, please email our CEO, Stephen Opie |
OMAI FAATASI - COME TOGETHER |
We are partnering with Atamu, a faith-based charity in Waitangirua, to co-design a social connection service specifically for Pasifika seniors to learn new things, have fun and enjoy good food with friends. Come and join us for a fun social gathering for Pasifika seniors!
* Free social gathering for seniors
* Fun activities * Enjoy lunch, a chat and make new friends
* No need to register, just turn-up.
When: Tuesday 10am – 12.30pm, 30 April
Where: Salvation Army, 89 Warspite Ave, Cannons Creek, Porirua Click here for more information. |
Join Age Concern's monthly pop-up social connection hubs for seniors: come by for some tea and coffee, and snacks, and a great speaker! Everyone welcome. Next hub events: - Vogelmorn - Vogelmorn Hall, 13 Vennell Street, Brooklyn, 26 March & 23 April, 2pm
Seatoun - Seatoun Village Hall, 22 Forres St, Wednesday 3 April & 1 May, 10.30am
Linden - Linden Community Centre, 10 Linden Avenue, Tawa. Tuesday, 9 April & 7 May, 1pm Upper Hutt - Heretaunga Christian Centre, 51 Lane Street - Wednesday 10 April & 8 May, 12pm
Lower Hutt - Walter Nash Centre, 22/26 Taine St, Taitā, Thursday 11 April & 9 May, 1.30pm - Te Aro - Te Pokapu Hapori- Wellington Central Community Centre - 105 Manners St, Te Aro, 11 April & 9 May, 10.30am
Call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details. |
OUR LATEST STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES |
Check out some of our new classes... all welcome!
To find out more about Steady As You Go and for a full list of Steady As You Go and Aligned To Go classes around the Region, click here or call 04 499 6646.
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STEADY AS YOU GO ONLINE EXERCISE CLASSES - ALL WELCOME |
Every Wednesday at 9:30am there is a livestream Steady As You Go class on Zoom. It's open to anyone - you don't need any prior experience. It is a gentle entry-level exercise class, and all you need to do is register by filling in the form online (click the blue button below). The link will be sent to you. Come and join the 20+ other seniors online for some gentle exercise fun together! |
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HUTT VALLEY VOLUNTEER CATCH-UP |
Join some of Age Concern Hutt Valley's volunteers for a coffee every couple of months. If you're one of our volunteers, and you would like to come along or would like more information, please email avshutt@acwellington.org.nz or call Tania on 04 499 6646.
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WE CAN HELP YOU PLAN FOR YOUR END OF LIFE CARE |
Age Concern Wellington Region has an Advance Care Planning service in partnership with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. Kay Webster is our amazing Advanced Care Planning Coordinator. She is available to come and talk to you about making an Advance Care Plan. This fantastic service is free. She is also available to make presentations to your group. If you want to know more about this new service and how to get in touch with Kay, please check out our website or call us.
Call 04 499 6646 or visit our website (click here) for more information. |
YOU CAN HELP US REACH MORE SENIORS |
Did you know that Age Concern Wellington Region is a charity? Only about a quarter of our funding comes from the Government and another quarter from local Councils. We need to raise the rest of the funding we need to keep the programmes you've just read about in this newsletter going.
You can help by making a donation to our work. We greatly appreciate the support of many people around our Region (and across the seas) who donate to our work. Can you help? To make a donation using our secure website, click the button below. |
CHANGES AT AGE CONCERN WELLINGTON REGION |
Age Concern Wellington Region is changing its structure from an Incorporated Society to a Charitable Trust. Only the legal structure of our organisation changes, with a new bank account, IRD number and Charity Services number. There will be no noticeable change for our board, staff or volunteers, and our work with seniors will continue. New Bank Account: Kiwibank 38-9025-0361487-00 Charity Service No: CC61759 We're making this change to streamline our governance. Many charities are making the same change as it has become more for difficult for Incorporated Societies to attract volunteers willing to participate in decision making as Members. |
Tell your volunteer story for a chance to win a place at a special National Volunteer Week event!
To celebrate National Volunteer Week 2024 in June, Volunteering New Zealand is gathering stories of volunteering from across Aotearoa.
They want to hear stories about the volunteering experience from Individuals and/or Organisations/teams throughout out Aotearoa/New Zealand. For more information click HERE. Stories need to be submitted to margaret@volunteeringnz.org.nz by 30 April.
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LIFE WITHOUT A CAR BOOKLET |
Throughout our lives we all want to stay connected with friends and family, maintain our independence and keep doing the things we enjoy. There are many options for staying connected as we age, regardless of whether or not we continue driving a car.
Reducing or stopping driving does not need to be a limiting factor that prevents you doing what you want, but it helps to think ahead about your future transport needs. Age Concern New Zealand has produced a booklet which highlights options for older New Zealanders to remain active and connected. This includes some things to consider about where you live, community and public transport services, recreation activities as well as social outings.
Click here to download the Life without a Car - Transport options for Seniors booklet. |
MOBILE HAIRDRESSER - HUTT VALLEY |
Do you need a hairdresser to come to your home? Jenny Gunn has over 30 years’ experience, is based in Upper Hutt, and can come to you anywhere in the Hutt Valley. She is a qualified and professional hairstylist, and has very reasonable rates. Eftpos available.
Call Jenny on 021 295 6915 |
Useful Tips
From phone calls and text messages saying you owe money, need to claim a parcel, or must renew an important document, to emails and letters claiming to want to give you money or urgently needing you to renew a registration of some kind, there are countless approaches out there. Sadly, it's important to be on your guard.
Some useful tips include considering requests and asking yourself how the request makes you feel. It's also important never to enter passwords on unknown sites. Even clicking on a link in a text message can be dangerous. Scammers are good at making things seem urgent, so perhaps the most useful advice we've come across is to 'pause, reflect, protect." BNZ's scam savvy quiz is also an interesting resource. Give it a try here if you like (click here)... Consumer NZ also has interesting information about scams, including this article: The simple banking process that could stamp out scams - Consumer NZ Inland Revenue Scams Unsure if you have received an official email or text message from us or whether it is a scam?
There appears to have been an increase in emails and text messages from scammers pretending to be from Inland Revenue. Even if it looks convincing, don't click on links or give out your bank details.
Inland Revenue don't put refund amounts, or links directly to myIR in their emails or texts. Scam emails may come from an email address or include links that are wrong but look like theirs. For example: ird.co.nz, ird.qovt.nz or ird.gov.nz Their correct web address is ird.govt.nz and emails will come from alerts@ironline.ird.govt.nz or communications@myir.ird.govt.nz
To check a link, use your mouse to hover over it. The address will appear in a box or at the bottom of your screen. Make sure the link is correct before clicking on it.
For more information about the latest scams and what to look out for, visit IRD's website: https://www.ird.govt.nz/managing-my-tax/scams/latest-scams." You can call Inland Revenue at 0800 775 247 to ascertain whether you are due a refund.
Email Scams
An email scam has re-emerged that references Police and other justice sector partners. The email claims authorities have done a search of the email recipient's computer locating explicit illegal material, and that a reply is needed within 48 hours or a warrant will be issued for their arrest. This email is a scam and anyone who receives it should not reply under any circumstances. It's important to note that Police and other government agencies will never contact you out of the blue and ask for your password, credit card or bank details. Anyone who received this email scam is asked to send it as an attachment in an email to the Police Cybercrime Team: cybercrime@police.govt.nz
Phone Scam
We've also heard of a local phone scam where someone pretends to be calling from Age Concern and tries to sell membership or dietary supplements. This is a scam - Age Concern will never call you and try to sell something. Just hang up. Please also report it to the police on 105, or to us on 04 499 6646 |
The Books at Home Service is a free service for people who are unable to get to a library themselves, permanently. If you wish to join Wellington City Libraries as a Books at Home Borrower, would like to know more about the service, or would like to help by delivering selections to a Books at Home Borrower, please get in touch. Call 04 801 4044 or click here for more information.
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The Naenae Community Library run a Mid-week Movie screening on Wednesdays at 10am. These are free to all and they use a drop-down screen in their community space to project the film. Call 04 567 2859 for more information. |
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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS
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- COVID-19 Healthline 0800 358 5453
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emergencies dial 111
- For non-emergency police matters dial 105
- If you are feeling anxious or just need someone to talk to call or text 1737
- Age Concern Wellington 04 499 6646
- Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
- Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116
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Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
- Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.
- For further information, contact the Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service (09 623 4812).
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WellElder: a counselling service for older people, or those supporting an older person. Wellington Region: 04 380 2440 (Tuesday - Thursday)
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Lifeline: qualified counsellors and trained volunteers: 0800 543 354 or free text 4357
- Samaritans: confidential support, empathetic listeners: 0800 726 666
- The Continence NZ Helpline 0800 650 659
- Elder Abuse Wellington Helpline 04 805 0880
- Dementia Wellington 04 972 2595
- If you need to discuss your entitlements phone the
MSD Senior Services line 0800 552 002
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Wellington City Council: wellington.govt.nz or 04 499 4444
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Greater Wellington Regional Council http://www.gw.govt.nz/
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Hutt City Council: huttcity.govt.nz/ or 04 570 6666
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Porirua City Council: poriruacity.govt.nz/ or 04 237 5089
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Kapiti Coast District Council: https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz
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Upper Hutt City Council: upperhuttcity.com/ or 04 527 2169
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ASB Bank Senior Priority Direct Line 0800 272 119
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THANK YOU WELLINGTON COMMUNITY FUND FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT |
We really appreciate the support of WCF who have provided us with some seed funding for our new social connection project in Porirua. Thank you! |
UPCOMING EVENTS, PRINTABLE VERSION |
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Age Concern Wellington Region is a registered charity. We are part of a wider network of more than 30 Age Concerns located across the country.
Visit our website to find out more about our work around the Wellington Region and how you can be involved www.acwellington.org.nz © Age Concern Wellington Region Incorporated
Charities # CC26836 |
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