Avoiding online scams, driver courses, news, and much more...

KIA ORA

Welcome to another edition of our newsletter.

A few shy daffodils are appearing: spring must be around the corner, but it's still cold at night. We hope you're keeping warm and healthy. 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.

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT - MAKING CONNECTIONS

Last year, our Making Connections Day at Johnsonville was a huge success. We had so many people wanting to attend that we had to close registrations long before the event.

Because of this, we wanted to make this year's event even bigger and better. Thanks to the Wellington City Council and our key sponsor AMP, this year's Making Connections Day will be held at the St James Theatre! This is a very special FREE event for all seniors. Come and make some new connections, hear from some interesting speakers and enjoy some lovely food.

Our keynote speaker will be the Minister for Seniors, Hon Casey Costello.

• Make connections with other seniors
• Make connections with organisations and businesses that can help you
• Make connections with Age Concern

Join us at MAKING CONNECTIONS 2024! This is a FREE event but spaces are limited so register now.

Where: St James Theatre
When: Wednesday, 2 October, 9am till 3pm
Entry Cost: FREE!

SPECIAL EVENT – GUIDED TOUR OF PUKEAHU PARK

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is the central place for New Zealanders to remember and reflect on this country's experience of war, military conflict, and peacekeeping, and how that experience shapes our ideals and sense of national identity.

We are working with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage to bring you free guided tours of this amazing park.
 

The one-hour tours start at 10am on the following dates:

• Thursday 26th September
• Thursday 28th November

Meet at the Pukeahu Education Centre, 191 Tory street. Parking available by the Education Centre. Turn into 191 Education entre's driveway, there is parking on the side there.

Bookings are essential so please call Vanessa on 027 248 0335 or email events@acwellington.org.nz to reserve your space. This programme is accessible for different mobility needs.

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.

Bring your digital device and get help from some friendly people.

There will also be a seminar on avoiding 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

Next event:

When: Wednesday 14 August, 10:30am till 2pm (two sessions available)
Where: Seatoun Village Hall, 22 Forres St, Seatoun

Cost: FREE! But you must register using the blue button below (or by calling 04 499 6646)

WALTER NASH HUB, 8 AUGUST, CHANGE OF TIME

The next Age Concern Wellington Region hub event at the Walter Nash Centre, Taine St, Taita is on the 8th of August, but the START time has changed to 2pm this month instead of the usual 1:30 pm start.

OMAI FA'ATASI - COME TOGETHER

We are partnering with Atamu to provide a social connection service specifically for Pasifika seniors. There is plenty of room, and food, so come and join us for the next fun social gathering for Pasifika seniors! All welcome.

* Free social gathering for seniors

* Fun activities

* Enjoy lunch, a chat and make new friends
* No need to register, just turn-up

The next Omai Fa'atasi event on 13 August will be a great informational session for seniors. We will also do Steady As You Go, a light exercise class which caters for our seniors' physical and mental wellbeing, as well as learning arts and crafts from some of our seniors.

When: Tuesday 10am – 12.30pm, 13 Aug, 3 & 24 Sept, 15 Oct
Where: Salvation Army, 89 Warspite Ave, Cannons Creek, Porirua

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:

• Lower Hutt - Walter Nash Centre, 22/26 Taine St, Taitā, Thursday 8 August, 1.30pm

• Linden - Linden Community Centre, 10 Linden Avenue, Tawa. Tuesday 13 August, 1pm

• Upper Hutt - Heretaunga Christian Centre, 51 Lane Street - Wednesday 14 August 12pm

• Te Aro - Te Pokapū Hapori- Wellington Central Community Centre - 105 Manners St, Te Aro, Thursday 15 August, 10.30am

• Vogelmorn - Vogelmorn Hall, 13 Vennell Street, Brooklyn, Tuesday 27 August, 2pm

• Seatoun - Seatoun Village Hall, 22 Forres Street, Seatoun, Wednesday 4 September 10.30am

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

STAYING SAFE CLASS FOR OLDER DRIVERS

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 refreshments provided! Registration is required. To register for a class now, click on the link below, phone us on 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz

Next classes:

Tuesday 20 August, Johnsonville

Wednesday 28 August, Anvil House, CBD (Te Aro)

CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS – TIM PANKHURST

On our next Curious Conversation, we'll hear from Tim Pankhurst about the Te Araroa Trail. Join us on Zoom on 26 August at 2pm to hear from Tim!

To register to receive the Zoom link for Curious Conversations, click the blue button below.

OUR LATEST STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES

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

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

• 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
• Tawa Community Centre, Thursday 1pm (**new time**)
• Plimmerton, St Andrews Anglican Church, Wednesdays at 11.30 am (**new time**)
• Aligned To Go exercise class at the Victoria Bowling Club. 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

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!

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.

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."

SENIORS' WEEK/TE WIKI KAUMĀTUA 2024

Seniors' Week/Te Wiki Kaumātua is a series of community events and activities for older people, all about building connections and reducing social isolation in later life. This year it will take place from 25 September to 2 October. This year's theme is 'Our Place/Tō tātou wāhi'.

If you are organising an event to coincide with Seniors Week please let the WCC Community Support team and Age Concern Wellington Region know about it so that they can spread the word.

For more information, contact community.support@wcc.govt.nz

BETTER DIGITAL FUTURES FOR SENIORS IN PORIRUA

Free courses for all! Find out how to use your digital device. Porirua City Centre Library and Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa offer free courses to help those who need technology/digital support.

Get help with basic digital literacy courses in various subjects such as online shopping, online banking, going on to government websites, how to use apps on your smartphone, how to setup an email account or browse the internet, buy/sell on TradeMe, use library apps such as Libby, and much more.

The courses are slow paced, suitable for seniors, and can be tailored to their level of experience.

All the programs are free. Clients are also welcome to go in and use their computers and connect to free Wi-Fi. If you would like a quick tour, please get in touch.

All the information is available on their website too (porirualibrary.org.nz/digital), including a link to register.

AGE FRIENDLY PUBLIC SPACES

Cities need to provide inclusive public spaces that meet the needs of older adults. Age-friendly public spaces play a critical role in promoting the well-being of older people, encouraging social connections and supporting active lifestyles. This is the topic of a PhD research in Victoria University of Wellington. The study explores the suitability of the public spaces in the city of Wellington for older adults and will propose better alternatives in the design of these spaces. Your participation will support this research by sharing your experiences and the difficulties you encounter when using public spaces.

The main participants of the study include older adults, aged 75 and over, from both genders and different ethnic groups who live in the inner suburbs of Wellington. The data collection method is by interview. The duration of each individual interview will be approximately 20 minutes. Please contact sadiq.younes@vuw.ac.nz or 020 401 64967 if you are interested or need further information.

This Phd study has been reviewed and approved by the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee. Reference: 30813 

FREE WELLBEING SUPPORT

The Access and Choice Wellbeing Support service provides free wellbeing support for people of any age who are living in the greater Wellington and Wairarapa regions.

The services are part of GP practices and appointments take less than 30 minutes. Best of all, you can probably be seen on the same day. Your wellbeing team will aim to work to understand your situation and then make sure you get the support you and your whānau need, whatever that may look like.

For free 24/7 confidential help, advice, or support:  you can contact (free call or text) 1737 at any time.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS

• COVID-19 Healthline 0800 358 5453
• 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 PELORUS TRUST FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT

We really appreciate the support of Pelorus Trust who have provided us with some funding for equipment. Thank you!

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

Click here to Unsubscribe