Happy Friday! The sun is shining and a few daring flowers are emerging. What a beautiful day!
We have lots of useful information, news and events in this week's newsletter. Check out our brand new Steady As You Go class starting this Monday at the Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, and we have some more Staying Safe courses booked in for the coming months. Plus read on to find our how you can get a $50 supermarket voucher by offering your opinions to Metlink about how to make public transport more accessible. Thank you for sharing a few moments of your day with us. |
SPECIAL EVENTS IN AUGUST!
FREE ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEYWORKSHOPS AT OUR MONTHLY POP-UP HUBS |
Join us for a cup of tea and make new friends at our free monthly pop-up hubs for seniors. In August, we're having some special workshops on Enduring Power of Attorneys, and why you need one. There's even a very special offer from Porirua and Kapiti Community Law to complete an EPoA for just $100+gst - a huge saving!
Don't miss this important workshop... Thursday, 18 August, 2pm, Stokes Valley Community Hub - afternoon tea provided Tuesday, 23 August, 2pm, Vogelmorn Hall - afternoon tea provided
Please call 04 499 6645 for details |
STAYING SAFE WORKSHOPS FOR OLDER DRIVERS |
Staying Safe is a FREE classroom based refresher workshop for senior road users. Age Concern runs these workshops in partnership with Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
For more information and a list of upcoming courses call 04 499 6648 or click here |
STEADY AS YOU GO ONLINE EXERCISE CLASSES - ALL WELCOME |
Did you know that every Wednesday at 9:30 am there is a live-streamed 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 designed for seniors. All you need to do is register by filling in the form online - click the blue button below. |
Steady as You Go Falls Prevention Exercise Classes are designed to improve strength and balance and help prevent a fall. The classes improve balance and leg strength, flexibility, general fitness and wellbeing.
*New classes* - Thorndon (at Loaves and Fishes in the Anglican Cathedral), Fridays at 1pm
- Upper Hutt (at Expressions), Wednesdays at 1pm
- Te Aro (at Southern Cross Bar and Restaurant), Mondays at 1 pm starting THIS MONDAY! 15 August
No need to book - just turn up! For a full list of Steady As You Go classes around the Region, click here or call 04 499 6648 |
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CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS SERIES
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The Curious Conversations series has proved very popular since we launched it a few months ago. You can join on Zoom and hear great speakers sharing about all sorts of topics, from art, to religion to science. |
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NEXT EVENT - CURIOUS CONVERSATION ELEVEN August 22, 2pm
TILLY BOLEYN Head of Curatorial at Science Gallery, Melbourne
Radical Rethink: The art and science of collaborating with young people
Register below to receive the link
(If you've already registered for Curious Conversations, you don't need to register again. We will send you an email with the link.) |
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DID YOU MISS PREVIOUS CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS?
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GOLDEN HOURS - COME AND SAY HELLO TO US |
Seniors' drop-in for morning tea and a chat at the brand new Te Pokapū Hapori - Y Central venue on Manners Street. The venue will be reserved for us - come and chat to staff and others and enjoy some muffins!
When: Tuesday, August 16, 10.30am - 12.30pm Where: Y Central, 107 Manners Street, Wellington |
We need volunteers for the Companion Walking Service in the following areas: - Wadestown
- Johnsonville
- Churton Park
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Kelburn
If you think you could be a volunteer, please visit our website (click here) or call 04 499 6654 for details |
Please consider helping us by buying art. Proceeds from your purchase will not only go towards helping lonely seniors in the Wellington Region, but will also make 91-year-old painter, Ron Jobson, very happy! If you don't have room on your walls but would like to support our work, please consider purchasing one of the paintings for Age Concern Wellington Region's office - we're brightening up our space and would be thrilled to have a few paintings on the wall. We'll attach a small plaque with the donor name on it. Please call 04 499 6648 for details or for a private art viewing.
Picture above: Ron Jobson. Fox Glacier, one of the artist's paintings, is picture at the start of this newsletter |
DONATE YOUR CURTAINS TO THE WELLINGTON CURTAIN BANK
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Sustainability Trusts Wellington Curtain Bank relies on donations of good quality, pre-loved curtains to support families in need. The Wellington Curtain Bank upcycles preloved curtains and gives them to low-income families in the Wellington Region.
They desperately need donations of good quality, mould-free curtains to continue helping families in need. Can you help? They take:
Good quality, mould-free curtains, Fabric rolls or large offcuts of fabric, Tracks and hooks, Rolls of white/cream or grey, poplin/polyester/cotton or calico They don’t take: Dirty, sun-damaged or mouldy curtains, Curtain rods or brackets, Any type of blinds, Netting
Not sure what they accept? Give them a call on 04 385 0500 or flick them an email (click here)...
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AGE-FRIENDLY URBAN SPACES |
The Urban Design Forum in Wellington is looking for one or two volunteers who can join us in an ‘Age Friendly Urban Spaces’ event to be held in Wellington on 15th August – as a follow up to a webinar that was held on 13 July (see video here...)
This 15th August event (approx. 5pm – 7pm) will be a short walk (in one or two small groups) through the CBD followed by a discussion in the Boffa Miskell office, and will be joined by the speakers from the recent webinar (Joost van Hoof, professor Urban Ageing in the Netherlands, and Jo Rae, OfS). As the topic is how we can best design our urban spaces for older people they very interested in having two people who can speak from experience – how older people experience our city – join us in this walk and discussion.
If you are interested, please contact:
Jos Coolen on 04 385 6150 or email Jos.Coolen@boffamiskell.co.nz |
HELP METLINK MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE |
Metlink are inviting you to an interview about how they can make it easier for you to travel on buses, trains and the Harbour Ferry in the Greater Wellington region. This interview is about you and your story. It’s an opportunity for you to tell Metlink about transport needs, how you currently travel and your knowledge or experience of using our Region's public transport services.
Metlink can interview you at any time and place that works best for you, and with any support people you’d like to invite.
The interview will take an hour and they are offering a $50 supermarket gift card as a thank you.
To express interest, please contact Leigh-Ann at Metlink on 021 538 638 or email Leigh-Ann.Harris@gw.govt.nz |
The government is expanding access to free rapid antigen tests (RAT) kits. This is in response to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. It's a good opportunity to collect a supply of test kits.
You don't need COVID-19 symptoms to get free test kits. Test kits can be picked up from testing centres, local pharmacies, current community providers, including marae. |
GETTING HELP DURING SELF-ISOLATION
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If you are self-isolating because you have tested positive for Covid-19 or have been a close (household) contact, where can you get help when you need it?
If your support network is unable to help you get food, medication or with any other needs you have, you can contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) COVID-19 help line on 0800 512 337, or your doctor/GP. They can put you in touch with a Community Connector if necessary. There are Community Connectors throughout the Wellington Region and they are there to provide an extra level of support so individuals and whānau get the support and services they need during their time isolating.
If you have any issues getting help through these channels, contact us at Age Concern Wellington Region – we may be able to put you directly in touch with a Community Connector. Help is always here for those who need it and we encourage you to reach out. |
COVID-19 RESOURCES, GUIDELINES AND PREPAREDNESS
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OUR SERVICES UNDER ORANGE |
Currently our Visitor and Walking Services are continuing under the ORANGE traffic light (with Covid-19 precautions in place). Most Steady As You Go groups are continuing to meet, and many other events will take place as planned. Please contact us for details.
Volunteers and Clients can contact their Coordinator for more information. For general enquiries about our services, please call us on 04 499 6646 The situation is changing rapidly and we will update our service status whenever changes are made. Visit our Service Update webpage for full details. |
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS
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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 Incorporated Charities # CC26836 |
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