Latest news from the Cerebral Palsy Society – The Review magazine, Round the Bays and HEAPS happening in the community

Kia ora, 

I hope this email finds you, your whānau, family and friends well. We hope you’ve been able to make the most of the summer weather, and the children amongst our membership are all well settled back into the school routine.  

Our thoughts have been with Kiwis living with the impact of the Port Hills fire in Christchurch, and we share the community’s grateful thanks to the fire fighters who have been working hard to protect the community.  

Latest edition of The Review magazine 

The next edition of The Review magazine is out now, and we’ve got plenty of news and articles about some fabulous people to share with you. 

Our friends at Paralympics New Zealand share the findings of their research around making sport more inclusive to people living with a disability, and they look ahead to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.  

We meet actress Lily Edmonds who is making waves on and off the stage, and Andrew McCrory who is on one heck of a mission to raise money for Kiwi kids living with Cerebral Palsy.  

CP Society member Leon Prenter invites us into his accessible home and CP Society members, and staff members, Amy Hogan and Renata Kotua acknowledge the challenges of navigating adulthood with a disability.  

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their stories for this edition of The Review.  

You can read the latest edition here.  

Round the Bays 

The Southern Cross Round the Bays is just around the corner.  

We’re so grateful to everyone who has signed up so far to take part in the Auckland event on March 3, and fundraise for the Society at the same time.  
We wish you all the best of luck, and we are incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you!  

If you want to sign up, it’s not too late – just click here for all the information. 

If you’d rather show your support by donating, you can head to our Round the Bays page and click “Donate”. 

* Anyone fundraising for the Cerebral Palsy Society will need to cover the cost of their entry fee and arrange their own bib collection and transport on the day.    

Coffee group 

Our Auckland, Masterton and Wellington coffee groups are in full swing! It’s great to see regulars back with us and new faces for 2024.  

The two Christchurch groups kick off on March 5. We can’t wait to see you all.  

Did you know the refreshments at coffee group are on us! 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. 

For all the coffee group venues, dates and times check out our website.   

Check your e-card balance 

Did you know you can check the balance on your e-card? 

– You can go to https://ecardsolutions.nz/portal/cps/    
– OR check your last receipt 

Click here for more information about our e-card funding programme. 

Premature birth research

The Champion Foundation Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting babies born prematurely or with disabilities. The trust commissioned a report to summarise international evidence around the significant long-term effects of a premature birth. 

A link to the free online report is here.  
The report has been written for a non-specialist, professional readership. 

Trikes New Zealand on tour 

Trikes New Zealand is hitting the road in February and March. 

They are going to be in:  

– Auckland on February 26 at the Show Your Ability Expo, and on February 27 they will be at Sommerville Special School
– Hamilton on February 28 at the Show Your Ability Expo 
– Cambridge on February 29 at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome
– Palmerston North on March 1 at the Show Your Ability Expo

Check out the details on their Facebook page, go to www.trikesnz.co.nz or phone 06 367 8272, 021 485 459 or email brian@trikesnz.co.nz  

Adaptive Football  

Adaptive Football programmes are popping up all around the country.  
It’s perfect for young people living with a disability who are keen to give football a go.  

The Adaptive Football programme gets young players with different abilities enjoying all the health and social benefits of football – playing varieties of the game that are tailored to their ability.  

Sessions are currently running at Eastern Suburbs Football Club and Papatoetoe United in Auckland and Canterbury United/Mainland Football in Christchurch.  
They are also held in West Auckland at various times of the year.  
There might be more Adaptive Football around the country so be sure to check in with your local football club.  

Some information:  

– Northern Region Football – www.nrf.org.nz/Community/adapted-football   
– Mainland Football – www.mff.nz/lifestyle/adaptive-football   

Enabling Good Lives 101 

My Life My Voice is running a series of community-based forums called Enabling Good Lives 101.   

They will be held across six regions and will explore the Enabling Goods Lives (EGL) approach and how it can impact lives. The forums are for people who are familiar with Enabling Good Lives, and those that know nothing about it but are interested in learning more.  

More info:

– My Life My Voice: www.mylifemyvoice.org.nz/egl   
– Enabling Good Lives: www.enablinggoodlives.co.nz   

Outward Bound Adapted courses 

Teens looking to build confidence, resilience, and make new friends can consider Outward Bound’s 2024 Adapted Courses. Enrolments are open now.  

 
The 8-day courses are fully funded. The only cost is getting a pre-course medical done by a GP and getting to and from Picton.  

– Youth Activate – For 16-18 year olds, April 20–27.  
– Activate Leaps & Bounds – For 13-16 year olds to attend with a parent or caregiver, October 6–13.  

Click here for more information. 

Free well-being workshops 

Cerebral Palsy Society members are invited to attend a free workshop – Introduction to building our well-being – for families of people with disabilities.  

The sessions will be facilitated by Jules Garland. 

These sessions introduce skills that participants can use to support themselves to reduce stress, prevent overwhelm and build resilience. e.g. mindfulness, gratitude, overcoming negativity bias, mindful self-compassion. Jules will speak briefly about each technique and then the group will practise together.  

In person session: Saturday, 23 March 10am-12.30pm Remuera, Auckland 
Online session: Tuesday, 26 March 7-9pm 

Registration essential – email citizenadvocacyauckland@gmail.com  

Click here for more information.   

Spark LIVE in Northland 

Glass Ceiling Arts Collective’s new multisensory theatre production Spark LIVE is coming to Northland in March and April.  

This production is specifically for audiences with PMLD (Profound and multiple learning disabilities), people with high and complex needs, those with Autism and high needs and people with high sensory needs, their caregivers and whanau aged 10+ to adult. 

“This production will wow audiences with its rich multisensory storyscape with things to touch, taste, hear, see and smell. Combining film, live music, bold staging, original songs and NZSL, this event is highly accessible so that audiences with PMLD can connect to the story in their own individual way.” 

Click here for ticket information.  

Halberg Games 2024 

The Halberg Games are not too far away! This national sports tournament spans three days and is open to young athletes aged 8-21 with a physical disability or visual impairment.  

The 2024 games are on from April 19 – 21 at Kings College, Auckland.  
Competing in regional teams, participants get to explore their competitive spirit and try their hand at new sports.  

Click here for more information and to register. 

It’s exciting to see how much is going on out there in the community – hopefully you get a chance to get out there and make the most of it.  
We hope the next month goes well for you, and we look forward to bringing you more news soon.  

Ngā mihi,    
Clare and the CP Society team  

Clare Williams     
General Manager