NEWS & UPDATES
Socialising, support and laughter – coffee group has it all
24 Mar 2025
We think our coffee group hosts are the best – and we’d love for you to meet them!
Attending a Cerebral Palsy Society coffee groups is all about sharing experiences, creating friendships and getting out and about in the community.
The Society runs eight coffee groups around the country – three in Auckland, one each in Whanganui, Masterton and Wellington, and two in Christchurch.
Six volunteers host the groups, and we wanted to introduce them to you.
You’ll meet some in this edition and more in the next issue of The Review.
Our North Shore, Auckland host
EM DUNGAO
What is your connection to the Cerebral Palsy Society?
I work for Creative Abilities, a company that supports individuals with diverse needs, including many who are members of the CP community.
You are our newest host, what are you looking forward to about hosting coffee group?
I’m excited to help establish connections and friendships outside of Creative Abilities. It’s a great opportunity for CP Society members to come together and stay connected.
Why should members come to coffee group?
It’s important to have community connections and live a fulfilling life. Attending coffee group can help people go out, feel supported, and improve their well-being.
What’s an interesting fact about you?
Every year, my friends and I go on a week-long camping trip, friends that have become a second family for me here in NZ.
NB – Following Sara Sheehan’s upcoming retirement, a new host is to be confirmed for the St Lukes and Manukau groups.
Our Whanganui host
GEORGE HEWITT
How long have you been hosting coffee group?
I started the first coffee group in Whanganui in October 2024.
What do you like about hosting coffee group?
The chance to connect with others with CP is so valuable. When I moved to Auckland, I met a bunch of young people living with CP. Picking up different tips and tricks or passing on my own knowledge of what it is like growing up as a young dude with CP is valuable and fulfilling and the reason why I started this group.
Why should members come to coffee group?
It’s a great opportunity to connect with others that live with CP for a yarn over kai and/or coffee. If you’re a member reading this and live in the Manawatu/Whanganui region and are a bit hesitant, just get in touch. I’d love to connect and see how we can make it work for you.
Outside of coffee group, what are your interests?
I’m about 8 gigs into a budding stand-up comedy career so if you know anyone that has a mic to warm, let me know. I also play a bit of golf, run, go to the gym, I love listening to a bit of vinyl and I sit on the board of our Society. I like to keep busy.
Our Masterton host
MATT WILLS
How long have you been hosting the Masterton coffee group?
Since early 2023. I took over from our previous host, Vanessa Connell who did an amazing job establishing the group in Wairarapa.
What do you like about hosting coffee group?
I believe the strength of these groups is the social interaction but also being able to discuss whether group members need additional support or advocacy around issues
related to living with Cerebral Palsy.
Why should members come to coffee group?
For me there are a number of benefits of coming to the group – social interaction, advocacy, fun and lots of laughs, with some serious stuff thrown in.
Outside of coffee group, what are your interests?
I have a passion for sport particularly rugby and cricket. I won’t share which Super Rugby team I support as our coffee group members will give me too much grief!
What’s an interesting fact about you?
My proudest achievement is completing a National Certificate in Radio at the NZ Radio Training School and hosting my own disability issues radio show, Wheels on Fire, on Arrow FM, Access Radio Wairarapa, over a 20-year timeframe.
We’ll introduce you to the rest of our coffee group hosts in the next issue of The Review.
Let’s connect over coffee!
Click here for all the coffee group details.
We’re always on the lookout for new hosts, so if there isn’t a coffee group in your area and you’d like to get one started, please email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz or phone 0800 503 603.
This article was originally published in the March 2025 edition of The Review magazine.
