NEWS & UPDATES
November news from the Cerebral Palsy Society
28 Nov 2024
The busy season is upon us. There’s excitement in the air and the weather is getting warmer and sunnier. Christmas is just around the corner!
This time of year is always filled with lots of tasks and exciting things to do. With that in mind we’ve got plenty of news and upcoming events to share with you.
2024-2025 roles for the CP Society Executive Board
Following the CP Society’s Annual General Meeting, the new 2024-2025 Board has met and confirmed the positions for the current term.
– Daniel Clay remains Chairperson/President
– Renata Kotua is the Vice-President
– Emma Lovett moves from Vice-President to Secretary
– Peter Wynne-Jones retains his role as Treasurer.
Congratulations on your appointments and thank you for volunteering for the Society.
Welcome to the team Caroline
Our new Office Manager, Caroline Junges, joined us on November 11.
Caroline’s background in the UK, Australia and here in Aotearoa New Zealand includes a mix of working in the private sector, and volunteering and working in non-profit roles.
She has a Master’s degree in Business and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management focusing on Healthcare in Aotearoa.
Caroline was born in Brazil, has German heritage and moved to New Zealand 5 years ago.
We’re sure you’ll join us in welcoming Caroline to the Cerebral Palsy Society whānau.
CPS Christmas shut down dates
From midday on Friday December 20, our entire team will be on holiday.
Staff will start returning to their desks from 9am on Monday, January 13.
During the three-week shutdown period the phones and emails will not be monitored.
If you have any general queries, please get in touch with us before 3pm on Thursday, December 19 to ensure we have enough time to help you.
You can contact the team on 0800 503 603, or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz.
e-Card top up requests for the holiday season
– The last date to apply for e-card funding before the office closes for the holidays is 10am on Wednesday, December 18. You will receive notification that your funding is available on Thursday, December 19.
– Top up requests received after 10am on Wednesday, December 18 will be processed when our office opens in the New Year. You will receive notification that your funding is available on Monday, January 20.
Thank you for your Be Green & Be Seen support
THANK YOU! From the bottom of our hearts – THANK YOU!
We’re so grateful to everyone who supported Be Green & Be Seen – Kia kākāriki, kia kitea.
We’ve loved seeing the photos, receiving the donations, and hearing about the activities you got up to.
Be Green & Be Seen – Kia kākāriki, kia kitea ran throughout October to coincide with Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day on October 6 – but it’s not too late to donate! You, your whānau, friends and colleagues can donate whenever you want. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/be-green-and-be-seen-for-cp
getMoving spaces available
Great news – 3 spots have become available on our awesome getMoving programme.
GetMoving is a funded exercise programme for Auckland-based Cerebral Palsy Society members aged 6-18.
Specialist, customised classes are held weekly at Functional Adaptive Movement™ Ltd (FAM™) in Mt Albert, on Wednesdays from 3.30pm – 4.30pm until June 18, 2025 (with a short break over the Christmas – New Year period).
Funding covers classes and a contribution towards travel costs to get there.
For more information, go to: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/member-services/getmoving, or send an email to Theo at theo@cpsociety.org.nz to register your interest.
Thank you to trusts and foundations
The Cerebral Palsy Society relies on donations and grants to help us do the mahi we do for Kiwis living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi.
We are very grateful to the Trusts, Foundations and friends that have supported us. Most recently:
– Trust Waikato
– The Trusts Community Foundation
– Lion Foundation
– NZ Community Trust
Thank you for making a difference!
You can check out all the Trusts and Foundations that support the Society here: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/our-supporters
Suppliers new to the e-Card Programme
Great news – a new group of companies have signed up as suppliers to the getProgramme.
getPhysical
Baxter Drum Tuition – Tauranga and Rotorua – Music therapy and drum tuition – baxterdrums@gmail.com
Forrest Hill School – Forrest Hill in Auckland – www.forresthill.school.nz
Box Office Boxing Incorporated – New Plymouth/Taranaki – Boxing, youth programmes, child classes (7-11), Box fit – www.boxofficeboxing.org.nz
Mindy Silva – Wired on Limited – Nelson – Individual therapy, community and group activities. An accessible community space for therapy and fun – mindysilva1@gmail.com
Shona Lee Physiotherapy – Taranaki Region – Gentle, explorative Feldenkrais method. Increases human potential at any age. Builds bridges in the body and brain – shonamoves@gmail.com
GetThis&That
StokedNZ – New Zealand wide – Wearable hooded towels for discrete changing – www.stokednz.co.nz
Shoe Clinic Palmerston North – Manawatu region – Retailer of sports and walking footwear/socks, specialist in fitting footwear – www.shoeclinic.co.nz
Check out all the e-Card suppliers here: www.tinyurl.com/57czutz5
Check your e-card balance
It’s easy to check the balance on your e-card. Simply:
– Go to https://ecardsolutions.nz/portal/cps/
– Check your last receipt
– Or go to www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz, click the Dashboard button, sign in and click the “Check Your E-Card Balance” button.
24-hour Global Listening and Sharing
Tomorrow, Friday, Nov 29, the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD) will host the 24-hour Global Listening and Sharing session for 2024.
The topic is “Families: who cares for them?” and once again Aotearoa New Zealand is playing a part.
From 7.30pm Cerebral Palsy Society Researcher and Member Support Advisor Amy Hogan, and pediatric physiotherapist Mindy Silva, will be hosting the session “Reflections on Life, Loss and Therapy Responsibilities” where parents will share their reflections followed by open chat.
More information and the full timetable are available here: www.iaacd.net/kh-home/listening-and-sharing-sessions
The Zoom link to Amy and Mindy’s session is here: https://bit.ly/IAACD-NZ
Coffee groups
December marks the last month of Coffee Group for the year so be sure to head along to one of the groups to celebrate Christmas with your fellow members.
Coffee groups are held in Auckland, Whanganui, Masterton, Wellington and Christchurch and the refreshments are on us! A companion, support worker and/or family member is welcome to accompany members to these groups.
For all the coffee group venues, dates and times check out our website –www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/member-services/events/coffee-groups.
Please note, Coffee Groups are not held in January and will all resume in February.
A HUGE thank you to our volunteers and staff who host a coffee group. We really appreciate your time and commitment to making these events happen.
For more information about our Coffee Groups, please phone 0800 503 603 or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz.
Entertainment memberships – a great gift for Christmas
Thanks to everyone who has supported the Society by purchasing an Entertainment membership – you’ll be enjoying some great rewards!
– Save up to 50% on dining, shopping and things to do
– Unlock 15,000 valuable offers across Australia, New Zealand and Bali
Current offer: COMPLIMENTARY Multi City Membership Upgrade + BONUS $30 Woolworths Gift Card with every Single City Entertainment Membership purchase.
Order Here - https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/9g64387
Website Accessibility Menu
Have you checked out the new UserWay Accessibility Menu on our website? It’s designed to make navigating the website a little easier, particularly for people with disabilities or impairments.
Check out our video – https://youtu.be/cwGUAvIHyS4 – to get an insight into how it works.
Thanks to the ANZ Staff Foundation whose generosity has made this possible.
Wellington Round the Bays
Cerebral Palsy Society member Connor Adamson is a man on a mission – and he’s looking for people who live with Cerebral Palsy to join him.
The Wellington resident, who is GMFCS level 2 and uses a walking stick, is going to be walking the 4.8km event at Round the Bays Wellington, on February 16, 2025.
Keen to join him? Find out more: www.tinyurl.com/dfks688r
Research opportunities
There are plenty of Cerebral Palsy and disability-related research opportunities to get involved in.
– Accessibility of buildings for people with disability
– Exploring Parental Perspectives: CMV Screening and Diagnosis in New Zealand through the Lens of Families
– Paediatric inpatient rehabilitation: What’s important to you?
– Healthy Ageing in Adults with Cerebral Palsy.
Head to our Research Opportunities page for more information: www.tinyurl.com/2va843ke
What’s On
Emergency preparedness workshop in New Brighton, Christchurch
The workshop, run by DPA and Christchurch Civil Defence Emergency Management, will discuss what you can do before, during and after an emergency.
Where: North New Brighton Community Centre
When: Thursday 12 December, 1pm to 3pm
RSVP: by Tuesday 10 December
There’s more information, including RSVP details here: www.tinyurl.com/bddd6phm
Halberg Games – registrations open
The 2025 Halberg Games will take place from April 24 to 26 at King’s College in Auckland for 8-21 year olds, with a physical or visual impairment.
There will be more than 20 sports, an opening ceremony and family festival activities.
Get all the info and register here: www.halberg.co.nz/halberg-games/halberg-games/
All Star Nippers – an Inclusive Nipper Program
All Star Nippers is for 7-18 year olds with physical or intellectual impairments. It is run out of Waimairi Surf Club with support of Surf Lifesaving Southern Region.
The Program aims to promote water safety, beach awareness, community spirit and fun all within an inclusive surf life saving environment.
Held on Sundays from January 12.
Info poster: https://tinyurl.com/yxchzjh8
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/2fm2vfy8
Before I sign off, I thought I’d share these awesome gift guides with you.
This one has been put together by the Auckland Down Syndrome Assocation and is a collection of present ideas that have been made by entrepreneurs who live with a disability. www.tinyurl.com/4582ztbh
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation in America has put together a gift guide that is full of present ideas for people who live with a disability. While some of the items may not be available in New Zealand, it’s worth taking a look – you never know what you’ll come across. www.tinyurl.com/595598m7
Nga mihi,
Clare Williams
General Manager
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Postal address: |
Phone: 0800 503 603 |
