News, events, and much more... |
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Happy New Year! The New Year has been cooler than expected in terms of weather, but we are looking forward to some warmer times, interesting changes and great developments as the year progresses. Our services are up and running again with the staff fully refreshed after the break. 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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I hope you had a good break and some time to relax with friends and family. It's our first week back at work this week and I have to say my alarm going off at 6:30am was a bit of a shock for a couple of days!
I am always excited at the start of a new year as to what it will bring. I will soon pass 5 years as CEO and have really enjoyed my time leading our team and volunteers. Our team has grown, and we're reaching more seniors than ever. 2024 was a year of exciting change for us - we changed from an Incorporated Society to a Trust to streamline our governance, we moved offices as we needed some more space, and we started a new Pasifika programme in Porirua. It was a fun but challenging year, and I was pleased that our team was able to 'switch off' for a few weeks to rest and re-energise.
But we're back now and excited about 2025. We are expecting some challenges too - the charity sector is really struggling right now due to reduced government spending resulting in greater demand on existing grant and donation channels. But I have full confidence we will get through it as we have a brilliant staff team and a very high quality, forward-thinking board. So we all look forward to engaging with you this coming year. We are very grateful for your support, for our volunteers and our financial supporters. Stay in touch with us - we love to hear your feedback and stories of older people in our community.
Stephen Opie
CEO |
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: -
Wednesday 26 February, Miramar & Maupuia Community Centre
- Wednesday 6 March, Te Aro
Click here to register online. |
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. Stay tuned for the next dates... most groups will resume in February. Call 04 499 6646 or email events@acwellington.org.nz for details. |
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WE'RE HIRING! DO YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM? |
We're looking for an excellent Omai Fa'atasi Coordinator – Porirua (fixed term, 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! We need a Coordinator for our Pasifika social connection programme in Eastern Porirua 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.
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STEADY AS YOU GO FALLS PREVENTION CLASSES |
Many of the Steady As You Go classes will take a break over the holidays. Please call your Peer Leader or Age Concern for details.
Check out some of our available classes... all welcome!
*NEW* Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, Tuesdays 1pm from 28 January *NEW* - Seatoun Village Hall, Mondays 10am
- Wainuiomata (Wainuiomata Library), Tuesdays 11am
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Newtown (Newtown Community Centre), Tuesdays noon
Upper Hutt, Te Kupenga o Rongomai/Maidstone Sports Hub, Maidstone Park, Tuesdays 11am -
Walter Nash Centre, Taitā, Tuesday 1:30pm
Thorndon (at Loaves and Fishes in the Anglican Cathedral), Fridays 1pm - Johnsonville Uniting Church, Tuesdays 1pm
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Island Bay Community Centre, Wednesdays 1.30pm
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Tawa Community Centre, Thursday 1pm
Walter Nash Centre, Taitā, Thursday 1.30pm -
Plimmerton, St Andrews Anglican Church, Wednesdays 11.30 am
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Hataitai, All Saints Church, Wednesdays 12 pm
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 |
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! * FIRST CLASS FOR 2025 - WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22 |
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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. |
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." See our latest scam prevention presentation (click here) |
EMERGENCY POWER CUT – CAN YOU CONTACT 111 |
Source: Posted on January 12, 2025 by Age Concern New Zealand 'on research' If the power goes out and there is an emergency, make sure you can contact 111.
Most modern home phones require power to work - it’s important you know what technology your phone uses, and that you check your family and friends understand this and are prepared.
How can I check?
To test whether your home phone will work in a power cut, turn your power off (at the mains is suggested for an absolute result, but otherwise at the wall should suffice) and see if it works.....Read the full Blog
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Hutt City has a programme of Social Drama classes in three venues. The classes involve group improvisation, fun and games, and story telling to keep the mind active and creative. No lines to learn. Just come along with a sense of humour.
Starts: Tuesday 4 February. Venue: St Augustine's Church Petone - every Tuesday, 10.00 am
Te Mako, Nae Nae - First and third Tuesday, 1.00 pm Upper Hutt Library, Second and Fourth Tuesday, 3.30 pm
For more information contact: sallyjoanrichards@gmail.com |
There is something about music; it brings people together from all walks of life, ages, and ethnicities. This was the view expressed by one of our staff after they attended a session with the Hutt Ukulele Orchestra recently.
The couple who are behind the orchestra are Murray and Margaret who, with their son Justin, have a family business: The Music Warehouse in Petone. They have been in the business of supplying and servicing musical instruments since 1993. The couple are obviously passionate about music and great customer service.
Margaret and Murray say the orchestra has been going for over 10 years and they now have around 80 members that meet each Thursday night at the Petone working men's club. It is a great range of people of all ages. They are keen to expand the number of musicians by teaching them to play the ukulele and will visit other organisations if they are interested.
See more about them on Facebook (click here)... |
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 |
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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS
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- For
emergencies dial 111
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For non-emergency police matters dial 105
- If you are feeling anxious or just
need someone to talk to call or text 1737
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Age Concern Wellington 04 499 6646
- Dementia Resources https://www.harrislist.co.nz/
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Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
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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.
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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)
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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
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The Continence NZ Helpline 0800 650 659
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Elder Abuse Wellington Helpline 04 805 0880
- Dementia Wellington 04 972 2595
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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 PULSE ENERGY FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT |
We really appreciate the support of Pulse Energy who have provided us with some funding for our mahi with seniors. Thank you! |
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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 Trust
Charities # CC61759 |
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