Here we are….spring is well and truly in the air, Christmas is just around the corner, and here at the CP Society we are still basking in the glow of a wonderful and busy October. 

We have a lot to update you on in this email, so please sit back and scroll on through.  

The Review magazine 

The latest edition of The Review magazine is out now!  

Grab a cuppa and sit down to read the latest news. The magazine is jam packed with photos from the Auckland Marathon, the Children’s Fun Day and Be Green & Be Seen. You can also read about the Outward Bound courses some of our members have been on, and there’s a great article about disability and the poverty trap.  

Click here to read the latest edition.  

Be Green & Be Seen 

Thanks to you, your whānau and friends Be Green & Be Seen was an extraordinary campaign! Thank you to each and every one of you who took part.  

We were delighted to see photos and donations come rolling in from schools, workplaces and individuals.
There certainly were some creative green ideas out there!  

This year’s campaign had a couple of firsts for the Society:  

We added #beACTIVE to Be Green & Be Seen and asked people to pick a physical challenge, set up a fundraising page and seek donations. We were thrilled to have 14 people take on the challenge and raise an incredible $6,316 for the Society.  

We had 10 people running and walking in the Auckland Marathon for us! It’s the first time we’ve had participants in the marathon and it was wonderful to see so many members, family and friends challenging themselves, and to see how proud they were of their achievements. They raised the amazing amount of $4,552. 

Our Givealittle page raised $3,085 from 45 generous donors, and then there are all the donations that came in via our website and online banking. WOW!  

We are so grateful to everyone who put themselves forward to fundraise for us, and to those who donated to support them. Thank you!  

The funds raised will support our e-card programme – funding towards transport, counselling, equipment, exercise and everyday essentials; as well as vital advisory services and social connection events. 

You can check out some Be Green & Be Seen photos here.  

Listening & Sharing Sessions 2023 

Travel the globe in 24 hours without leaving home…… 
The International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD) is hosting Listening and Sharing Sessions 2023 on December 1.  
The global topic is “What do adults with disability tell us about their childhood?”. 
Aotearoa New Zealand is playing a part, so be sure to save the date!  

From 4pm-5pm Cerebral Palsy Society Researcher and Member Support Advisor Amy Hogan will be presenting and hosting panelists as they talk about the “Experiences of Adulthood and Disability in Aotearoa NZ”.  

To join the Zoom session, please register here.
More information, and the full timetable are here.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Ever wondered how to know if your membership is current, or how to check the balance on your e-card? Do you want to know more about the NZ CP Register?  

The answer might be right here in the new FAQ section of our website! 

It covers membership, e-card, e-card suppliers, grants, the NZ CP Register and other topics.  

Next time you’ve got a question, check this page out.  

Board positions confirmed for 2023-2024 

The Cerebral Palsy Society Board members for the 2023-2024 year have confirmed their positions.

Congratulations to:
– Daniel Clay who is now the Society’s Chairperson/President
– Meg Smith who has stepped down as Chairperson/President and taken on the role of Vice Chair/Secretary
– Peter Wynne-Jones who retains the role of Board Treasurer

We are also saying farewell and thank you to Katherine Thomas who resigned from the Board on Oct 31. Katherine has been a valued part of the Board and we thank her for her time and commitment to the Society. 

Coffee groups in December 

Be sure to head along to one of our coffee groups this December to celebrate Christmas with fellow members.   

– Auckland – Manukau and St Lukes 
– Masterton
– Christchurch – Parklands and Addington 
* Please note, the Wellington coffee group is cancelled for December.  

You can find all the coffee group details here – https://tinyurl.com/49yzsncx     

** Coffee groups are not held in January, so they will all resume in February.   

A companion, support worker and/or family member is welcome to accompany members to these groups. Up to $15 worth of refreshments per person is provided compliments of the Cerebral Palsy Society. 

A HUGE thank you to our volunteers and staff who host the coffee groups. We really appreciate your time and commitment to making these events happen.  

Allied Medical’s wheelchair giveaway 

Allied Medical is turning 25 this month, and they want to share the joy! To celebrate, they are giving away 25 wheelchairs to individuals or organisations around Aotearoa. It’s their way of saying thank you for 25 years of support. 

During the month of November, you can nominate a deserving individual or organisation in New Zealand – you can nominate yourself too!
Nominations are open until November 30, 2023. 

Click here to make a nomination.  

Santa’s Grotto – Wilson Home Trust in Auckland 

Santa is getting ready to visit our friends at the Wilson Home Trust in Auckland. 

Santa will be at his Grotto from 10am-2pm on Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2. He’ll be joined by a fairy and some superheroes! 
There will also be face painting, plenty of fun and some tasty treats.  

Santa’s Grotto will be open to children who meet the Wilson Home Trust criteria of having a physical disability, along with their siblings. 

Registration is essential and closes November 29 so that Santa has time to get the presents ready, and the fairies can make enough yummy food for everyone.  

To register please email lucindas@wilsonhometrust.org.nz with: 

• Which day and time you would like to attend 
• Your child’s name and their sibling’s names that will be attending 
• Ages of the children attending. 

Wilson Home is at 1 St Leonard’s Rd, Belmont, Auckland.  

Research opportunities 

There are plenty of research projects to contribute to and you can read about some of them on the Research Opportunities page of our website. 

Latest project:  
– The experiences of families who have accessed SDR surgery for their child.

New Zealand Relay  

Have you heard about New Zealand Relay?  

It’s a free, government-funded service that enables people with hearing and speech impairments to use the phone. It provides services to people who are Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, and speech impaired.  

You can find more information on the New Zealand Relay Services website and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.   

As the festive season gets closer, we wish you all well. 
Let’s hope the spring weather settles soon, and the summer weather arrives in time for the school and Christmas holidays.   

I look forward to writing to you one more time before the end of the year.  

Ngā mihi,
Clare and the CP Society team   

Clare Williams 
General Manager