Blog entries

We are so excited

Ginny — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:22:06 +0100

Here at Neighbourhood Trust, we are so excited by the new programme we are able to get started thanks to a grant from the Air Rescue and Community Services Trust. It's called 'Shake that Quake Weight'. Last year we were wondering what we could do to help the people of Christchurch, dealing with all the stress and ending up putting on weight, which none of us wants to do. Sally Rossiter, who has been one of the people running the Appetite for Life classes here put her thinking cap on and came...

Don't you just love this sunshine!

Ginny — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 05:08:11 +0100

I'm so bad at this blog stuff. I don't know about you, but the days go by in a bit of a blur with streams of people coming through and so much extra happening.

I have been loving the sunshine, though. We had a fantastic day for Mairehau Community Day at Mairehau High School. A great venue and very open to the public passing by who made good use of the fun activities, yummy food and fun activities.

Next on the list is the memorial Service of Hope tomorro...

Shake rattle and roll

Ginny — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 07:52:36 +0100

Well, we are back to this horrible wobbly, shakiness again. How are you all doing? For me, I'm back to ridiculously tired. Talking with people, quite a few a dispirited with the silt removal a problem again and fears that there are more to come.

I hope this rain is not causing more issues for you with flooding - apart from that it's quite nice to have an excuse to not do too much.

There are some nice patches amongst all this. At Neighbourhood Trust, whi...

Share your idea

Ginny — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:14:16 +0100

Ever wake up with a brilliant idea at 3am? Ever sit around with friends drinking coffee or wine and come up with the a bright idea? Why not share them with your neighbourhood?

We want to hear all your ideas of what would make your neighbourhood even better. Text Ginny on 027 746 5168 if you live in Mairehau/St Albans or txt Felicite on 027 6551 996 if you live in Shirley.

At last: new staff!

Ginny — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:42:18 +0100

I'm so glad to have a replacement for our staff member who resigned earlier this year.

Kim Button was appointed and began last week in the role of Neighbourhood Services Coordinator and she will continue to develop the Golden Connection programme for older adults, as well as help with advocacy for individuals and run community events. Welcome, Kim.

Angela Sanderson-Wright will start on 9th May in the role of Support Worker (Family services). We are all looking for...

A journey

Ginny — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:13:03 +0100

What a journey we are all on! I can't imagine what it must be like for those who have loved family members or friends on top of all the difficulties we are facing. We grieve for you and for our broken city. The only way I can think of to show this is to work hard to restore our city as a living memorial to the past and a brighter future for the next generation.

I think we are all tired, a bit sad, determined, frustrated and generally pushing on through the best we...

Staff vacancies

Ginny — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:28:06 +0100

We are really missing our Support Worker (Lyn Jones) who moved to Shanghai with her family at the end of last year.

We have re-vamped the Job Description for this role as we see the need to expand our family services. If you have good computer skills and some experience or training in human services or social work and looking for a 15 hour position, term time, we'd love to hear from you. We are a Christian organisation, so you must be able to work under and support this etho...

Up and running

Ginny — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:45:08 +0100

Wow - isn't amazing how holidays just disappear?

I came back to work this week and bang, straight into everything - The Mairehau, Parenting Week planning, KiwiMums planning, funding, holiday programmes etc etc and in the middle of this I'm a granny again - yay.

Makes me think again how precious those little ones are and we should be doing everything possible to make sure they have the chance to grow up well and know they are loved and valued. Let's make 2011 the year we reall...

Christmas things

Ginny — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:06:51 +0100

Christmas hampers is one of the really cool things happening at present at Neighbourhood Trust. The people of St Albans Baptist have been bringing along items of food and donations of cash, and volunteers spent time sorting the food and buying other goods to go in the hamper boxes. Thanks to Wainoni Pak'n'Save for their donation too.

Now we just have to deliver them! But that's the fun part - feel a bit like Santa.

We're gearing up for the Christmas Eve tea and Co...

Still places for appetite for life

Ginny — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:53:38 +0100

I can't believe there are still places left in the Appetite for Life course. It's brilliant in giving easy steps to control the weight gain and you get to try new foods. This is the last chance for the year to go on this course. Give it a go and ring 355 6522 to book.

Still shaking

Ginny — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:35:39 +0100

The latest earthquake on Tuesday morning was pretty scary. We had our Craft and Friendship group running. Several of the people there live on their own, so were pleased they were at our place and had others around. We encouraged them to stay and have a cuppa and chat till they felt better.

We have a small lounge area set up in the foyer at St Albans Baptist, so feel free to pop down for a cuppa any time. Don't be put off by the building going on on the corner. Act...

CTV at NHT

Ginny — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:29:05 +0100

We've had a bit of interest lately in one of our programmes, SuccessMaker and CTV came to one of the bases for the programme on Monday. SuccessMaker is a sophisticated software programme that teaches Spelling, Reading, Maths and Science. We have it installed on laptops and have trained tutors, to make up a mobile unit. It is being used in people's own homes and at centres such as St Albans Baptist Church, Te Puna Oraka the Shirley Early Years Hub and soon to be at Waipuna Trust.

Appetite for Life

Ginny — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:15:24 +0100

I'm excited that we are able to host another Appetite for Life course. I went to one of the last ones and without really even trying have lost 4 kg in a few months. They give easy, simple tips to cut back on some of the fat. And believe me, I have absolutely no will-power when it comes to goodies in the form of chocolate etc.

Would recommend it if you want to maintain your current weight or lose a bit for Christmas. You get to try out different foods. I'm now addicted ...

Changes to our environment

Ginny — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:23:44 +0100

It's now safe to go back to the beach (from Taylor's Mistake to Woodend), which is good news with the lovely warm days we have been having.

Someone said to me last week, 'With all that's happened in Christchurch, we are missing Spring'. It made me sit up and take notice of the the Spring flowers and blossoms all around the place. He was right, let's not miss Spring - all that new life around us.

Got to hand it to Council for getting so much of the city b...

Stay out of the water

Ginny — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:24:05 +0100

Message from Canterbury District Health Board Chief Executive David Meates on quality of water at present:

Water testing carried out by ECAN and Christchurch City Council has revealed high levels of human faecal contamination in all Canterbury Rivers, river mouths and the Estuary...

No school or preschool till Monday

Ginny — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:07:17 +0100

Hi everyone,

In case you haven't heard, this is the update from the Ministry of Education:

Important situation update 7 September at 3:30pm

Schools and early childhood services within the boundaries of Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri (including Rangiora) District Council and Selwyn District Council should be closed to students and children until Monday 13 September, and open to staff before that, subject to a structural clearance.

The Ministry positi...

Well done Canterbury

Ginny — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:20:05 +0100

Well done to all the fantastic first response, emergency teams, civil defence and other volunteers. You made such a difference.

Hasn't it been a scary time? Especially with the continuing after-shocks being at such a high level. We hope these will drift away now. It's been a full house here with family members staying, but some important times.

Hope you are all keeping warm, dry and safe. I have lots of friends who have had to move out of their ho...

Step back for a bit - get a new view

Ginny — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:18:55 +0100

I've just spent the week with an amazing group of people, all training in the Graduate Diploma in Not-for-profit Management, through Unitech.

The unit was on facilitating teams, meetings and presentations - sound a bit boring?? No way! The content, the trainer and the people involved had so much to teach me. I feel filled up to the top with new skills and tools. So good to step back, take time to reflect and learn something new.

The balancing act

Ginny — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:06:52 +0100

New things are always happening at Neighbourhood Trust. It's a balancing act to keep older programmes running smoothly, adjusting or expanding as needed, and look at where the gaps are and what is needed to fill them.

This year, we've put in the free nurse health clinic on Wednesdays, increased the frequency of bus tours for older adults in the warmer months and put in place upskilling of young adults in numeracy/literacy, as well as computer skills for this group and those m...

Free Nurse Health Clinic

Administrator — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Have you heard about our FREE HEALTH NURSE Clinic?

It runs every Wednesday, 9-12 midday at 64 Mc Faddens Road (St Albans Baptist Church).

(Except July 28th, Sept 8th, Oct 20th, Dec 1st, when the clinic will be held 1 – 4pm)

Kids got the sniffles and not sure if you should take them to the doctor?

Need to keep an eye on your blood pressure or blood sugars?

Have something that’s been going on for a while, but not sure if it needs ...