Autumn 2014

Inside this issue:

Message from

the Chairman

2

Recent events 3

UPP Club camp

photos

4

Event photos 5

Services available 6

Member

contributions

7

Event schedule

term two

8-9

Lisa’s Blurb

www.uppclub.org.nz

What’s UPP Canterbury UPP Club Newsletter

- Canterbury Com-

munity Trust

- Middleton Grange

School

- NZ Lotteries

commission

University of

Canterbury

-NZDSA

Hi everyone,

Thank you for attending the events for the first term of 2014, it has been a lot of fun!

We had a range of events this term including the annual camp, the Classical Sparks concert, a money skills seminar, a picnic in the botanic gardens, and a whole heap of potluck dinners!

We have some exciting events coming up including the school holiday fun days, UPP club’s got talent!, a first aid skills evening, and a few dinners out which are always crowd favourites. We also have the third Hanmer Springs getaway for senior members.

I am very happy to announce that 6 new members have moved up from the Step UPP club to the Junior UPP club group. A big welcome goes to Caitlin, Hunter, Jacob, Dominique, Georgia and Brittany. We are all very excited to get to know you.

Also a big welcome to our new UPP Club Secretary, Lyndelle Parr. We look forward to having your support with administration.

Finally, I just want to extend thanks on behalf of UPP club to the UPP Club BOT. They are a very talented and humble group of people. Greg Rozen— our chairman works relentlessly to ensure that the club is forward focused and al-ways evolving. The work our treasurer, Bridget Rees does is astonishing, Her work with the finances is extensive, and crucial to the existence of UPP club; without her effort we would not be able to run. Trevor Proctor’s input on educa-tion and general matters is also extremely valuable and appreciated. Jenny Swaffield’s commitment to ensuring our members have the best opportunity to live independent, fulfilled lives is highly appreciated. Finally the work off our newest board member, Ann Kofoed is very admirable. She, with help of other parents has created the Step UPP club which caters for children with Down syndrome aged 8-12. Ann’s passion and drive to create positive social oppor-tunities for our young people is highly valued.

Happy Easter! I hope you enjoy the break!

Lisa Sinclair Youth Programme Coordinator coordinator@uppclub.org.nz 022 088 47 42 www.uppclub.org.nz

WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 3

Message from the

chairman

The year start has been a busy one for both our Youth Workers, coordinator and the Board. That is both in respect of the Trust and in our other day jobs! Firstly, I would like to thank Ann for leading the Step UPP group and this looks like it is up and running well. The Trust has provided one of our youth workers to support this group and soon our external consultants from Socially Speaking will be providing over-view and support for these youngsters as well. Lisa has planned a great mix of events to start the year for our junior and senior groups and really wonderful to see our seniors take part on the splinter groups and take control of their social events. With the camp a not so distant memory, the Board has approved 2015 camp again at Living Springs, but we will be making changes to ensure move activities can be accessed by all members. That will then end our booking at this location and we are on the hunt for a new site for 2016 - any ideas welcome. We have had good news on the funding front, with The Lotteries Commission confirming our funding request for the coming twelve months. You will all appreciate that the annual membership fee provides less that 10% of our annual running cost, so the Board has re-viewed the annual fee with a modest increase this year to reflect the general increase the Trust is facing. In fact the membership fee hasn't been reviewed for 4 years, so all in all the outcome reflects the great work the Board has directed in securing funding. With the darker months approaching it is a good idea to think on safety for our members, especially around visibility if on bikes or crossing busy roads in darkness. Also please take greater care in the carparks whether dropping/collecting members.

WHAT’S UPP

AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 3 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER

Recent EVENTS

WHAT’S UPP

Camp 2014

On the 14th of February 38 UPP Club members and 11 UPP club staff travelled over the hill to Governors Bay for the 2014 UPP Club camp at Living Springs camp. From the moment camp started it was all action! To begin we got into 10 groups and created a group name and motto. The groups could then earn points for their team by showing good behaviour and great camp spirit. After a delicious dinner we set up the bunkrooms and got into our costumes for the “Celebrities” disco. It was like a scene from starts in your eyes when the members entered the auditorium as Elvis, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and many other stars strutted though the door. We cranked up the stereo and danced the night away! The following day we split into groups and headed to the climbing wall, Rifle range and Archery range. I was very impressed by every-one's skills, and we quickly discovered that we had some monkeys in the group along with some very talented shooters and archers. After a hot lunch served by the members we split into small groups and completed a range of activities including the monorail, flying fox, rope swing, balance bikes, mini golf, and trampolines. The team spirit and support was outstanding for all of the groups; the cheering on of teammates echoed through the camp. After dinner we got into their PJ’s and we watched the movie “Epic” which had everyone rolling on the floor laughing. On Sunday we assembled on the domain for an epic water balloon battle which left everyone soaked! Following the battle we headed up the hill and dived down the coolest water slide I have ever been on! The members showed great courage as they flew down the slide at great speeds! After rinsing off the grass we had collected we dived into the indoor heated pool for a swim. Spirits were high as we shot hoops, dived for rings and played shark attack! After the swim we cleaned the dorms till they were gleaming! I was very impressed with the effort made by the members. We finished cleaning a lot quicker than last year! After lunch we had a news-paper tower building competition in the auditorium. All of the groups created sturdy, aesthetical-ly pleasing towers which passed the weight test. To finish camp we had the final points count up and the groups were awarded prizes for their efforts throughout camp. The team spirit was fantastic the whole weekend and everyone proved that they could listen and follow their leaders instructions by the end of camp. The youth workers were fantastic at facilitating the groups and making sure everyone had a go at the activities, challenged themselves, and were feeling hap-py and healthy.

I would like to say a big thank you to the staff: Matthew, Jon, Annelise, Emma, Anna, Katie, Kim, Lucy, Caisee and Wade.

Thanks to all who came to camp this year, I am looking forward to the 2015 camp already!

AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 4 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER

Camp photos

WHAT’S UPP

Ryan T lines up an arrow

ABOVE: Ryan G zooms down the water slide

BELOW: The whole group before the water fight!

Nice tower ladies!

ABOVE: Andrew AKA Spiderman takes on the climbing wall. BELOW: Samantha, Kim and Shaun enjoy the pool

AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 5 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER

Event photos

WHAT’S UPP

ABOVE: Georgia attempts to pop Annelise’s balloon!

LEFT: Anam guards his balloon at the botanic gardens picnic

RIGHT: Ben M rides the giant frog!

LEFT: Andy and Mike do some laps of the pool.

RIGHT: Matthew Y is about to get flipped...I think!

Maria shows off her purchases at the money skills seminar.

Caitlin, Jacob, Hunter and Dominique having fun at bowling

Rochelle decides how to spend her money at the money skills seminar

Josie poses before getting a spare at bowling!

AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 6 WH AT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWS LE TTE R

Services available

Kiwiable Card:

A Kiwiable card will get you discounts at pools, recreation centres, theatres, attractions, educational facilities and more. I have emailed the application form to all members. I highly recommend you get one.

Total Mobility Taxi Vouchers:

The Total Mobility scheme is to assist eligible people with impairments to access appropriate transport to enhance their community participation. This assistance is

provided in the form of subsidised door to door transport services wherever scheme transport provid-ers operate.” This national scheme for eligible people with impairments is currently funded jointly by regional councils through local urban rates (a targeted trans-port rate) and central government (through New Zealand Transport Agency). Eligible individuals are able to access Total Mobility vouch-ers that enable them to receive subsidised taxi fares with approved service providers (taxi compa-nies) who participate in the scheme. In Christchurch, the subsidy is set at 50% of the taxi fare up to a maximum of $35.00 per voucher at present. All individuals with impairments wishing to access Total Mobility vouchers must undergo an assessment to ascertain if they meet the eligibility criteria set by New Zealand Transport Agency, and adopted by Environment Canterbury. An assessment is com-pleted in consultation with an Environment Canterbury approved assessor to verify the applicant meets the eligibility criteria (listed below). Eligibility Criteria: An eligible person must have an impair-ment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following five components of a jour-ney unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry in a safe and dignified manner:

• Getting to the place where the transport departs

• Getting on to the transport

• Riding securely

• Getting off the transport

• Getting to the destination

I have emailed an application form to all members, please fill this out and post to:

Sharon Boyle,

Total Mobility Administrator,

Environment Canterbury,

P O Box 345,

Christchurch.

Ph 03 3653 828

Email: sharon.boyle@ecan.govt.nz

Halberg Trust:

The Halberg Trust are offering 10 free gym sessions with a personal trainer as part of their Allsports programme. Please email Justin Muschamp at justin@halberg.co.nz for more information. We are hitting the gym for some Senior splinter group events in the second half of the year, so check it out!

WHAT’S UPP

AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 7 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER

Member contributions

Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

On Friday 21st February 2014, I attended a play, as part of a senior splinter group outing which took place in the Mona Vale Gardens. The play was called 'The Tempest' and was written by William Shakespeare. It was a beauti-ful evening and we had a great view where we were sit-ting. The closest we got to was near the front so that we were able to see the characters. It included witchcraft, wizardry, medieval sword fighting, magic and pure imagi-nation that you would see before your eyes. Throughout the play I enjoyed the witches and how they used their magical powers. It was all confusing and it was very funny when the witches turned themselves into dogs when they chased away the bad guys. At the end of the play every-one was forgiven for what they had done. 'The Tempest' got its name from being based on a shipwreck.

I had a magical time!

By Andrew Oswin

Senior Member

Remember to check out the UPP Club website for all information regarding events, News-

letters, forms required, and most importantly—THE PHOTO GALLERY!

www.uppclub.org.nz

WHAT’S UPP

PAGE 8 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2014 WHAT’S UPP

2014 Event schedule: Term 1 school Holidays

Event schedule: Term 2

The following pages contain the schedule of activities from April-July 2014. I have created the events based on the feedback I received from the survey that was emailed out and from what my research has shown me what activities improve social and functional skills for our young people. I have also tried to utilise the many community events that are on in Christchurch.

School holiday fun days

The first school holiday event is on Wednesday the 23rd of April from 9am-6pm. We will spend the morning swimming at Jellie Park pool and spend the afternoon doing activities and watching a movie at the Middleton Grange Whare. The cost for this event is one carer support day.

The second school holiday fun day is on Wednesday the 30th of April from 9am-6pm. We will go to Orana Park in the morning and have a picnic lunch with the animals. We will spend the af-ternoon at the whare doing activities and watching a movie. The cost for this event is one carer support day.

NOTE: The 9am drop off and 6pm pick up is to suit working parents, you are welcome to only at-tend half a day or pick up earlier if required.

First Aid Skills evenings

Our wonderful new UPP club youth worker Annelise, is studying medicine and has kindly offered to coordinate these events. She has connections at the Christchurch hospital which has lead to us being able to use a medical training room for the events. This is very exciting as the members will be able to use real medical equipment!

Splinter Groups

Both junior and senior splinter groups will continue to run in term 2. Please see the ‘Splinter group timetable’ email for the choices you made. If you are new to UPP club please reply to the email and choose which events you would like to attend.

NOTE: The senior splinter group event for the 31st May has been confirmed, the members will be attending a Canterbury Premier league football game at ASB Football Park.

Senior Hanmer Springs weekend away

The third Hanmer Springs weekend away is fast approaching. It is occurring on Friday 16th May – Saturday 17th May. Please reply to the ‘Hanmer Springs trip’ email if you would like to attend. Please note that members who have not yet attended a Hanmer Springs trip will be chosen over those who went to Hanmer Springs last year. The cost for the weekends is $100-150 depending on how the members plan the trip.

One carer sup-port day

One carer sup-port day

PAGE 9 WHAT’S UPP

CANTERBURY UPP CLUB NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2014

2014 Event schedule: Term 2

WHAT’S UPP

Caroline Quick’s Flat

Saturday 31st May Western vs Universities Football Match

ASB Football Park, Edgeware

No cost

Christchurch Hospital

Christchurch Hospital

No cost