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KIA ORA

Welcome to another edition of our newsletter. We're enjoying the slightly warmer weather, we hope you are as well. 

 

There's plenty of useful information, news and events in this issue. Thanks for sharing a few minutes 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.

 

* pictured above: Age Concern staff member Ann Dalziel and Steady As You Go Peer Leaders at a recent training session. Thank you Moore Wilson's for providing the morning tea!

More Information

COMMUNITY HUB EVENTS

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:

  • Seatoun - Seatoun Village Hall - Wednesday 4 December, 10.30 - 11.30am, Christmas carols singing with Heart and Soul group

  • Linden - Linden Community Centre, 10 Linden Avenue, Tawa. Tuesday 10 December, 1pm

  • Upper Hutt - Maidstone Sports Hub - Wednesday 11 December, 12.30pm Please note the change of venue and time.

  • Lower Hutt - Walter Nash Centre, 22/26 Taine St, Taitā, Thursday 12 December, 1.30pm 

  • Te Aro - Te Pokapū Hapori- Wellington Central Community Centre - 105 Manners St, Te Aro, Thursday 12 December, 10.30am

  • Vogelmorn - Vogelmorn Hall, 13 Vennell Street, Brooklyn, Tuesday 25 February 2025, 2pm

 

Call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details.

UPPER HUTT CONNECT HUB AND STEADY AS YOU GO DECEMBER – CHANGE OF VENUE AND TIME

The Upper Hutt Age Concern Connect Hub scheduled for 11 December will be held in the Maidstone Sports Hub at the new time of 12.30 pm (there will be no Steady As You Go this day). 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS IN PORIRUA

Do you have a little spare time and a heart for seniors? Our volunteers are our lifeblood – without them we couldn't do what we do. There are many ways you can help us through volunteering.

 

We have a particular need for volunteers in Porirua at the moment, as well as a Farsi/Dari-speaking volunteer for a male client in the Wellington South Bays.

 

Please click here or call 04 499 6646 to find out more.

WE'RE HIRING! DO YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

We're looking for an excellent Omai Fa'atasi Coordinator – Porirua (8 hours a week).

 

Are you an outgoing and energetic person who enjoys interacting with and supporting seniors? Then you might be the person we're looking for! Our social connection programme for Pasifika seniors has recently launched in Eastern Porirua, and we need a Coordinator to help us continue to build networks, organise events and get alongside seniors to help them connect with others, improve their strength and mobility and have fun!

 

Age Concern is partnering with Atamu to deliver this programme. This role is mainly based in Waitangirua and Cannons Creek, and is 8 hours per week. We're looking for someone who knows this community and is passionate about helping seniors thrive.

 

Come and join our fun, dynamic and passionate staff team, and help us impact more people! Please visit our website for the job description and more information.

 

ANNUAL APPEAL – THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation to help us continue our important work.

Your donation is making a difference!

Click Here for More Information

OUR LATEST STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES

 Check out some of our available classes... all welcome!

  • Seatoun Village Hall, Mondays at 10am
  • Wainuiomata (Wainuiomata Library), Tuesdays at 11am
  • Newtown (Newtown Community Centre), Tuesdays at noon

  • Upper Hutt, Te Kupenga o Rongomai/Maidstone Sports Hub, Maidstone Park, Tuesdays at 11am

  • Thorndon (at Loaves and Fishes in the Anglican Cathedral), Fridays at 1pm

  • Johnsonville Uniting Church, Tuesdays at 1pm
  • Island Bay Community Centre, Wednesdays at 1.30pm
  • Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, Wednesday 4 and 11 December at 1pm
  • Tawa Community Centre, Thursday at 1pm
  • Plimmerton, St Andrews Anglican Church, Wednesdays at 11.30 am
  • Hataitai, All Saints Church, Wednesdays at 12 pm
  • Aligned To Go exercise class at the Quaker Meeting House. This is a faster-paced new class. Please see below or call 04 499 6646 for details.

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.

STEADY AS YOU GO ONLINE EXERCISE CLASSES – ALL WELCOME

Wednesdays 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!

Register for the online Steady As You Go class

CAN YOU JOIN OUR REGULAR DONOR TEAM?

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.

 

We have a team of donors who contribute to our work on a regular basis. Regular donations help us budget and plan for the future. Are you able to join our regular donor team? Even $10 per month makes a real difference!

 

To make a regular donation using our secure website, click the button below. Select your donation frequency using the drop down menu on the form. Or you can call us if you want to make a regular payment using internet banking directly.

DONATE NOW

AVOIDING SCAMS

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."

 

Read our latest blog post on scams (click here)

NZ POST – CLOSURE OF MARION SQUARE PRIVATE BOXES

NZ Post has announced that the Marion Square Private Boxes, at 140 Vivian Street, will be relocating on Friday 7 March 2025 to the Waterloo Quay Box Lobby, Ground Floor, 7 Waterloo Quay. There will be no change to Box customers' address and number. Customers will have the opportunity to relocate to another Box Lobby if they chose.

In addition, due to operational requirements counter services at the Marion Square Box Lobby will cease from Monday 18 November. Box customers have been advised of these changes and how to access their items.

PEN PALS WANTED

Wellington City Libraries (WCL) has a new pen pal program -- 'Dear Delaware'.

They have teamed up with a series of public libraries in Delaware, USA to exchange letters with their readers. It provides an opportunity to make new friendships and learn about another person's culture and life experiences through snail mail!

This is a free, all ages programme.  Participants only need to have access to an email and be able to visit a library branch to drop off and collect their letters. WCL covers the international postage costs.

Pen pal program process:

 

1. Registration: simply fill out the online registration form at wcl.govt.nz/deardelaware , or email the coordinator Tess Mehonoshen for a downloadable form -- email: tess.mehonoshen@wcc.govt.nz    

 

2. Pen pal pairing: After you have registered WCL will find a similar participant in Delaware to pair you up with. They will email you your new pen pal's details, along with what to do next.

 

3. Write a letter and drop it off at the library! WCL will email you when it's time to collect any new letters and when the next reply deadline is.

SUPERGOLD INFORMATION HUB

The SuperGold team has established the SuperGold Information Hub, a new digital platform that makes it easier for SuperGold Cardholders to access information on key support and services for seniors.

By offering a wider range of information as well as the savings on everyday essentials, the Hub aims to transform SuperGold into a more comprehensive and valuable resource.

To help improve the Hub over time, the SuperGold team welcomes feedback. Your input will help tailor the platform to better serve your needs, with future updates bringing more features and improvements.

Click here to access the hub:  SuperGold Information Hub

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS

 

  • For 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
  • Dementia Resources https://www.harrislist.co.nz/
  • Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
  • Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116
  • 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).
  • WellElder: a counselling service for older people, or those supporting an older person. Wellington Region: 04 380 2440 (Tuesday - Thursday)
  • 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
  • Wellington City Council: wellington.govt.nz  or 04 499 4444
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council http://www.gw.govt.nz/
  • Hutt City Council: huttcity.govt.nz/ or 04 570 6666
  • Porirua City Council: poriruacity.govt.nz/ or 04 237 5089
  • Kapiti Coast District Council: https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz
  • Upper Hutt City Council: upperhuttcity.com/ or 04 527 2169
  • ASB Bank Senior Priority Direct Line 0800 272 119


THANK YOU NZCT FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT

We really appreciate the support of NZCT who have provided us with some funding for our mahi with seniors. Thank you!

To donate to our work - click here
 

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 Trust
Charities # CC61759

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