Greetings from the Editor

A different voice for the editorial this month. I am the Youth Development Facilitator in the Community Team.

May is a great month for a number of reasons, including the wide range of events and national weeks.

New Zealand Sign Language Week. This is a great opportunity for everyone to have a go at learning Sign Language. The NZSL Week website has a great range of resources.

Youth Week. Keep an eye out for events and activities on the Ara Taiohi website.

North Canterbury Youth Futures Careers Expo is back in 2023. Wednesday 24 May, 4pm–8pm at Rangiora High. This event is a engaging and informative opportunity to:

• Explore some cool and interesting career and employment opportunities you may not have considered.

• Get a taste for future options.

• Receive guidance around opportunities in a field or education programme that interests you.

Youth Council have a new cohort of members. This cohort will bring a fresh view point for our current members and are ready to hit the ground running with continuing current projects as well as developing their own priorities.

Our Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs coordinator, Elizabeth, is available to connect with community members who are either; a young person not in education, employment, or training; a person living with disabilities - other disadvantaged people into work.

On Track is being delivered again starting this month. On Track is a capacity building training programme for community groups to strengthen their governance and organisational practice.

See inside for more details.

Emily Belton

BenefitMe

An online tool to find out what benefits you are eligible for

BenefitMe is a new independent online tool you can use to find out what income support you are entitled to from Work and Income.

BenefitMe is created by a citizen group, independent of government, and works out your eligibility based purely on legislation. It's designed to put power in the hands of the people so that if you get a different result than what Work and Income is telling you, you can confidently question this. BenefitMe has information about how you can do this.

How to use BenefitMe

Visit benefitme.nz and click on the 'Get Started' button. Enter details about your circumstances, and it will calculate your eligibility for the most common benefits. This will include whether you are entitled to them and the amount you can receive. Have a look at this video demonstrating how to use BenefitMe.

At this stage BenefitMe will tell you your eligibility for:

• Jobseeker Support

• Sole Parent Support

• Disability Allowance

• Accommodation Supplement

• (With more to come).

BenefitMe is an initiative by the Digital Aotearoa Collective, a civil society collective committed to addressing injustice and improving well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was designed in consultation with Citizens Advice Bureau.

Using BenefitMe to contest a decision made by Work and Income

Sometimes Work and Income gets it wrong, and if BenefitMe is giving you a different result than what Work and Income is telling you, then you can ask Work and Income to give you an explanation of how they determined your eligibility. BenefitMe has some information about how you can do this.

The Kaiapoi Garden Club is a club that meets in the evening while the majority of other Garden Clubs meet in the afternoons. By meeting in the evenings it gives younger people a chance to follow their gardening hobby after working hours.

We meet at the Riverside Bowling Club at Hinemoa Park, Belcher Street, Kaiapoi at 7.30pm the second Wednesday of every month.

We have members from Kaiapoi, Ohoka, Clarkville, Rangiora, Belfast and Christchurch. If you would like to know more please phone Colleen 03 327 3210. We are known for a club for men and women in a friendly atmosphere.

Next Meeting - Wednesday 10 May at 7.30pm at Riverside Bowling Club, with our speaker Valmai Becker – 'Using Native Plants'.

Visitors and new members are very welcome to join us.

R13 Youth Development Trust

R13 Youth Development Trust provides mentoring, counselling, and flexible wellbeing support for young people aged 12–18 in North Canterbury. We have had some staff changes: farewelling our truancy youth mentor Holly to her exciting new role with Stepping Stones, and welcoming Celine on board who is an experienced practitioner in the area of family harm and intimate partner violence.

At the moment at R13 we are seeing the need for youth-friendly spaces, drop-in activities, and practical workshops and we are eager for any volunteers or youth work students that this might interest.

Get in touch with us about anything – rachelhoc.r13@gmail.com or r13youthtrust.com

Volunteering Canterbury’s Volunteer Recognition Awards

Volunteering Canterbury’s Volunteer Recognition Awards take place each year during National Volunteer Week, which runs this year from 18–24 June.

Since the Awards began in the early 1990's, their purpose has been to recognise outstanding efforts and achievements by volunteers of all ages, in all sectors. Volunteer Recognition Awards are a great way to acknowledge and celebrate your volunteers, tell their stories and encourage others to volunteer with your organisation.

Nominations for our 2023 Volunteer Recognition Awards are now open! Not-for-profit voluntary organisations or projects within the Canterbury region are invited to nominate a volunteer, or group of volunteers, to receive an Award. For more information and to download a nomination form please visit: volcan.org.nz/awards

What’s Happening in North Canterbury

May 2023

Please contact us on 0800 226 695 to register or find out more about the activities listed.

Therapeutic Art Group

Every Monday 10am–12pm

Held at Kaiapoi Baptist Church, 67 Fuller Street. Kaiapoi. Facilitated by Lynette. Catering from absolute beginners to advanced skill. Upcoming specialist workshops (please register):

• 1 May - Paper Flowers with Sandie Brown (bring scissors, glue gun if you have one).

• 8 May - Folk Art with Chris Threadwell, (bring a terracotta pot).

• 12 June - Glass Tile Making with Jackie Hancock.

To find our more or to register contact 0800 226 695.

Rangiora Walking and Coffee Group

Every Tuesday 9.30am

Facilitated by Glenda and Chris the group is for patients and carers. Meet outside The Warehouse at 9.30am for a walk around Northbrook Waters and coffee at Station Café at 10.30am.

Oxford Support Group

Third Wednesday of the month at 10am. Next meeting 18 May at Café 51, Main Street, Oxford. Facilitated by Ans, Oxford Cancer Society Volunteer Support Group. All patients and carers welcome.

NEW Cheviot Support Group –Coffee and Chat.

First meeting to be held 10–11.30am, Wednesday 10 May

Craft Centre, 15 Seddon Street, Cheviot. Open invitation to patients and carers in the Hurunui and other areas who would like a morning out socialising.

Kaikōura Women’s Cancer Support Group

Meets weekly 10.30am Tuesdays

Facilitated by Blou Rickerby, Community Support Group Worker, Kaikōura Health Centre. Please contact Blou on 027 562 0811 to register.

Gynaecological Cancer Peer Support Group

8 May, 6.30pm. Meets every second Monday of the month in Rangiora.

A warm invitation is extended to people with gynaecological cancers to meet and gain support from others. Contact Catherine 022 0465 070 or Cancer Society North Canterbury 0800 226 695.

NEW Support Group - Life after Cancer

Facilitated by Kylie Tolman. Following the success of the Life after Cancer - the

“new normal” last year, Kylie (cancer survivor) is now offering a regular support for those who have completed treatment and are seeking support and ideas to adjust to their new life. Begins 6.30pm Thursday 4 May in Rangiora. Please register by contacting 0800 226 695.

Cancer Society Rural Clinics

For all cancer patients and carers to find out about treatment related support and rehabilitation. Held monthly (or thereabouts) at medical centres in Waikari, Amuri, Oxford (@ hospital), Kaikōura and Hanmer.

Other resources and support…

Look Good Feel Better workshops

For women at CS Rangiora, Saturday

27 May 10am–12.30pm. There are also workshops online for men. Please register at lgfb.co.nz/programmes

Blue Bros exercise classes for men

8.15am on Mondays and Fridays, Mainpower Stadium.

Facilitated by Mischa, this committed group extends a warm welcome to new patients. Contact Dave on 027 2027 525 to register. Note: classes starting in Amberley and Oxford.

Prostate Foundation support group

Monthly meeting in Rangiora (second Tuesday of the month). Contact Dean and Lois on 021 0224 6078 or email rangiora@prostate.org.nz

Ostomy NZ support

Meet alternative months in Rangiora (first Tuesday, Artisan Café) and Christchurch

(first Wednesday, Kidd’s Cakes, Cranford Street). Next meeting in Rangiora, Tuesday 13 June, 10am. Contact Brent on 03 313 5744, Diane on 027 416 4185 or email: ostomycanterbury@gmail.com for education and support for patients and families.

Sweet Louise

Support for those with advanced breast cancer. Contact 027 328 8003 sweetlouise.co.nz and Facebook.

Lymphoedema education sessions

(Also via Zoom). Held at 11am–12.30pm every second Tuesday of the month in the Chapel, Burwood Hospital. Enter via Gate 3, Mairehau Road. Learn skills for the self-management of lymphoedema. To book phone 03 383 6833 or email physiobd@cdhb.health.nz to register for the group or attend by Zoom.

Kaikoura Blue Bros

Exercise classes for Men in Kaikōura, Wednesdays at 10am. Please call Blou 027 562 0811 to register. Currently meeting for coffee.

Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ 0800 151 015, 20 Cashel Street, Christchurch. For more information on services check out: leukaemia.org.nz

Pinc & Steel

Cancer rehabilitation with a Certified Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapist is available through Active Health offering group and individual sessions. Read more and/or register your interest at pincandsteel.com/programs/register or contact susan@activehealth.co.nz

Canteen

Support for teenagers with their own cancer experience or a parent or sibling with cancer. Office at 23 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch. See canteen.org.nz/ for more information.

Relay for Life North Canterbury 2023

Just to update you all, the total profit raised to date is just over $92,000! We are incredibly thankful to everyone who has made this year’s relay such a wonderful success. Not just for the funds raised but from everyone who has contributed their time, resources, support, expertise, sponsorship and talent – THANK YOU so much for being involved!

Bulbs of Hope

Make Mother’s Day this year a bloomin’ beautiful day by giving mum a packet of gorgeous mixed tulip bulbs, or better yet, plant them in a lovely pot and give to her for her special day! Final bulbs now available.

Mixed bulbs available:

• 10 x Daffodils $11

• 10 x Tulips $13

• 100 x Daffodils $100

• 100 x Tulips $115.

Contact Tiff on tiffany.wafer@cancercwc.org.nz or 021 139 4909 to order your bulbs today.

Shoot for the Moon Challenge

Yes, Shoot for the Moon is coming back this winter. Keep an eye out for more information about this year’s challenge in next month’s issue of Chatter and on our Facebook page. To find out more about this fun event and how you can be involved go to shootforthemoon.org.nz