NZCOSS Network News, Winter 2009

Jill.Turquet — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:36:27 +1200

View from the Chair
View from the Executive Officer
Community Response Fund Set Up to Support Social Services
Mana Mahi Employment Resource
Collaborative Voices
Local Government Act Review
Biennial Hui: Takiri mai te ata hapara -- Looking Towards a New Dawn
Checking out the Scene in ............. Buller
Upcoming Events of Interest.........
Calendar of National and Street Appeals

View from the Chair

Andrew BeyerAndrew Beyer

As the global economic recession settles in around us, the effect displays an x-ray image of the structure of our society and economy.

At one end, the major banks continue to make comfortable profits and export them to Australian owners. A major New Zealand property developer enjoys a double hit -- buying up city properties at deflated prices as well as railing publicly against green provisions for city developments that are intended to help restore our planet. At the other end, jobs are lost, work hours are reduced, households struggle to pay mortgages and the basic costs of living, from reduced incomes.

Businesses big and small are fighting for survival and some are going to the wall.

We can see a familiar pattern in the picture -- the harshest impacts affect the most socially and economically vulnerable: recent migrants and those waiting for residency approvals, people with low incomes, people in casual or part time work in the construction, services and retail industries, and local manufacturing. From within these groups now emerges the predictable over-representation of Maori and Pacific people, young people and women.

In its May Budget, the Government sought to hold the line on major social expenditure; now we have the Minister of Local Government promoting a major withdrawal by local government nationwide from engagement in social and community well being.

For us at NZCOSS, these and many other elements of the recession galvanize us in our communications with the Government; these elements strengthen our will to support our member and associated organisations in continuing to provide vital social services.

We are also fronting up to the questions about what kind of social policy and action will emerge from the recession experience and guide our nation's community and socio-economic formation into the future.

We may also explore more just and durable alternatives to public policy in health, housing, education, income support, employment and training. We may explore further the social impact of technology that has transformed business and commerce, education and communications. What about the social consequences of heavily promoted technologies that enable intensive interpersonal exchanges between and among people who are physically remote and increasingly isolated?

We must explore and venture anew into the health of our soils, water and air. There is no society without food; there is only diminished and even damaging food if we don't protect and enhance the natural environment and all the life forms it upholds.

At NZCOSS, we will want to pile in to shape our views on new and effective ways for central and local government to contribute to social well being and community development. We may look to bring the rhetoric about social innovations into more real action with new partnerships among business, community and (yes!) local government to develop programmes that generate income for re-investment into our communities.

It would be great to hear the views of our member organisations on these matters. If we have the support, then as soon as we see the silver lining at the edge of this deep, dark cloud, we can act to make these issues a strong focus for our continuing work.

Top

View from the Executive Officer

Ros RiceRos Rice

Meeting My Responsibilities

In the last few months, I have been extremely busy attending meetings. This has led me to think about the value of spending hours around a table and resist the feeling that because I am sitting there talking or listening to others talk, I am not doing anything worthwhile.

In reality it is one of the most important jobs I have. I also believe it is a very positive sign, because if I am not at those meetings, then communication has broken down, and the best way for me to represent my organisation and members is to communicate viewpoints and concerns.

In Wellington in particular, meetings are constant and interminable. I thought it might be valuable to consider the meetings that I attended in the last week. It is heartening that MSD is beginning to involve social services in core policy discussions. There are several items being considered by MSD at the moment, where I and others from our sector have been invited to sit around the table and give input from inception to policy. These are places where we are able to put forward our concerns about education of regional funding advisors on policy changes. It is also a place where we can remind the people in government about the reality at the grass roots level for organisations affected by continuously shifting ground and changing policy and funding regimes. So I have attended 5 hours of meetings on these issues.

Then there are the meetings with members regarding their issues; that has taken me 4 hours.
Meetings with peer organisations on mutual concerns, activities and representation as combined sector participants ... 6 hours.
Attending a seminar held by four joint peer organisations on good employment practices in our sector ... 12 hours.
Meetings on independent and other issues as have arisen, including a meeting regarding the Victoria University survey and several other important issues ... 3 hours.

So in the last week I have shared ideas, discovered new things, discussed platforms, plans of action and combined responses, all in 30 hours of meetings. This does not count my work in the office which is piling up as I find more and more things to put in the 'to do' pile.

But I do not regret or undervalue these communications. Communication is the key at the moment, to keeping ourselves in the loop and ensuring that our thoughts and concerns are voiced.

Roll on next week -- I only have 12 hours of meetings booked so far.

Top

Community Response Fund Set Up to Support Social Services

Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development and Employment

Paula BennettNew Zealanders are faced with a once-in-a-generation recession, which is resulting in a marked increase in demand from our communities for support and services.

We're seeing much lower economic growth, falling business profits and rising unemployment. The squeeze is being felt widely -- philanthropic trusts and foundations are facing declining incomes and capital and many of our larger corporates are reducing their donations and sponsorships.

This National-led Government understands that the human casualities of these economic trends very often end up on your doorsteps. We recognise the important role that you are playing in supporting vulnerable New Zealanders at this time.

So let me tell you how we intend to help.

In late May, I announced that the Government would be setting up the Community Response Fund. This is a new short-term initiative which will help to sustain community and voluntary sector organisations through the economic downturn.

Up to $104 million will be made available to critical not-for-profit groups facing significant increases in demand for their services, or severe financial hardship.

To be eligible, providers of critical social services will have to demonstrate they are experiencing severe financial difficulty and are unable to maintain the current level of services as a direct result of the impact of the economic downturn on their funding. They could also be facing significantly increased demand for their services from families, children, young or older people as a direct result of the downturn. This is a short term fund which will provide one-off grants for 12 months or less to providers of critical social support services.

Belts are being tightened across all of government. We are having to do more with the funding we currently have. As you'll understand, there is no magic button the Government can push to suddenly turn our economy around. These are challenging economic times and the Government has to spend its money wisely -- like everybody else. But there are a series of things we are doing which taken together, will make a difference.

The Fund will use the unallocated funding from the Pathway to Partnership programme plus an addition $20 million; this will be consolidated into one fund and is being made available from 1 July 2009.

Applications for the first round of funding have been received and closed on 3 July. Successful applicants will be notified in September.

Regional panels with community representation will consider applications every four months. The Ministry of Social Development will be hosting a number of workshops around New Zealand to provide details about the new Fund and the application processes.

The maximum amount of funding available will be $50,000 per application. There is provision for grants above that amount, but only in exceptional circumstances.

I know from the discussions I have every day with sector organisations, that there are many groups working with the most at-risk individuals and families which are really struggling in the current economic climate. The Community Response Fund recognises and responds to those needs. I'd encourage those groups which meet the criteria to apply to the Community Response Fund.

By working together, we can develop creative solutions to deliver real help to those who need it most and to help social services deal with the extra demand caused by the economic downturn.

To visit the website, go to: www.familyservices.govt.nz/our-work/funding-resources/community-response...

Top

Mana Mahi Employment Resource

It's still available.....but we're running out! And available for the really reasonable price of $25 each (including GST and postage). A must-have for any and all organisations in the Tangata Whenua and Community and Voluntary Sector.

The overwhelmingly positive reaction we've had to this valuable employment resource on ways and means to better provide workplace wellbeing in our sector has been really gratifying for the Workplace Wellbeing Project. This project is a sector-driven collaboration between Community Waikato, NZ Council of Social Services, NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota.

Mana Mahi contains 17 best practice guides and six resource booklets relating to a wide range of employment relations issues.

Topics include:

Good employment practice in our sector
Guide to employment law
Employment Relations Act
Human Rights Act
Treaty of Waitangi
Minimum employment rights
Pay and employment equity
Good work-life balance
Training and supervision
Health and safety
Performance management
Managing employment relationship problems
Mediation
Unions
A sample employee handbook
Many other useful examples and handbooks

Feel free to be in touch with us on (04) 472 3364 or email manamahi [dot] orders [at] gmail [dot] com and we'll send Mana Mahi to you by return post. Don't miss out on this great resource!

Top

Collaborative Voices

In recent years, agencies engaged in the provision of social and voluntary welfare services in Aotearoa/ New Zealand have been gaining a greater profile that recognises the scale and contribution of the not-for-profit sector. For instance, last year Statistics New Zealand released figures that confirmed there were 97,000 non-profit organisations operating in New Zealand in 2005, employing 105,000 paid employees and supported by more than 430,000 volunteers. A non-profit institution is defined as being organised, not set up to make a profit, not distributing profits, separate from government, self-governing and having voluntary membership.

The Collaborative Voices programme is an initiative of the New Zealand Council of Social Services (NZCOSS) and New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations (NZFVWO), as a way of informing the sector about topical issues. The principle behind Collaborative Voices is to profile the sector in a way that actively demonstrates how organisations are working together collaboratively.

The programme is presented by Ros Rice, NZCOSS, and Michael Woodcock, NZFVWO. Ros and Michael both have experience in community radio broadcasting and are based in Wellington. They will be interviewing people either connected to or involved with the social services and community sector.

As well as interviews, the programme will feature news about developments in the sector, notices about relevant events and informative segments about a wide range of organisations active in the sector. Collaborative Voices will be replayed on by all eleven Access stations throughout the country. You can access Collaborative Voices and live stream it (for free) from this URL: http://www.accessradio.org.nz/community.html

Top

Local Government Act Review

Sharon TorstonsonSharon Torstonson

The introduction of a new Local Government Act in 2002 was greeted with excitement by NZCOSS.

It might seem a bit strange that we were excited about what sounds like a pretty dry piece of legislation. But in this new Act, we saw a fresh approach that had a lot of potential for the wellbeing of our local communities.

This new approach gave local and regional councils new powers and freedoms and also new responsibilities. The new powers and freedoms gave councils what is called the "power of general competence". This had the effect of removing the many limits on their activities that the old Act had imposed and authorised them to take on any activity they needed to, in order to look after the well being of their communities.

In exchange for this new power, councils were given, also, a number of new responsibilities. They were:

to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well being of their communities (often referred to as "the four well beings");
to take a sustainable approach to those well beings;
to enable maximum participation by the community in decisions about how to promote those wellbeings.

Hide StreetThe purpose of NZCOSS is to support our members who are local networks of social service and community organisations, in the support of their communities. And here in the new Act, local and regional councils were being required to do exactly the same thing.

This new approach is very different to how councils traditionally worked. As with any major change, it takes a while to get used to and learn news ways of doing things for both councils and their communities. As one commentator noted last year, "council officers, elected representatives and political commentators are only starting to understand the implications of this relatively new piece of local government legislation." -- Community Development: A Pathway to a Sustainable Future, Dr. Bruce Hucker, www.lgnz.co.nz/library/Communitydevelopment.html

At NZCOSS, we've done our best to educate our members about the Act and its potential for community empowerment. Some have been more able than others to engage with their local councils and participate in community decision-making -- see Promoting Community Wellbeing: A Study of the Involvement of Councils of Social Services in Local Authority Community Outcomes Processes, Karen Johnston, Christine Cheyne and Wendy Parker, NZCOSS, 2005, www.nzcoss.org.nz/index.php?page=85, just as some councils have made more progress than others in getting to grips with the new requirements and ways of working.

With the full potential of the Act still to be realised, we were concerned to hear the recent news that Cabinet had approved a review of the Act to be carried out by ACT MP and Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide. When we read his paper to Cabinet, www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/TAFMCabinetPaperApril09/$file/TAFMCabinetPaperApril09.pdf, our concern turned to alarm.

Firstly, he wants councils to focus on "core services", which are defined as roads, water and public health (e.g., rubbish collection). If he has his way, this would see the end of local government responsibility for the social and cultural well being of their communities.

Mr. Hide is concerned that some council services which are paid for by rates, benefit a limited number of people, to whom he refers to as "free riders". We're nervous that he could intend to scrap equity spending by councils -- spending which addresses the needs of vulnerable groups in our communities.

He believes that the consultation processes required by the Act which enable communities to participate in policy formulation, are "unduly increasing the influence of pressure groups". If these processes go, the less powerful in our communities will find it much harder to have their voices heard. I doubt that this loss would affect the ability of the Business Round Table to influence policy!

If Rodney Hide is able to push through his desired changes, he will rip the heart out of the Local Government Act. NZCOSS will be seeking every opportunity to keep community at the heart of the Act. We will work alongside the many others in our communities who are also concerned. We need your support. Please take every opportunity you have to raise awareness of the threat to the Act and take a stand beside us in any actions we engage in.

Top

Biennial Hui: Takiri mai te ata hapara -- Looking Towards a New Dawn

Tuesday and Wednesday, 6-7 October 2009

The Brentwood Hotel
Kilbirnie, Wellington

Everyone will probably agree at this point that far from being in the onset of a recession, we are pretty well stuck in the midst of it. Having come to this realization recently NZCOSS has decided that it's only appropriate to take a more far-reaching view and look towards a (hopefully, not too) future recovery.

Thus, we have tweaked the original theme of our hui into one of looking ahead towards that recovery, how to plan for it, what positive social policies will emerge from these times we are living in at the moment and how NZCOSS and our member and associate organisations can have a significant part to play in the formulation of these policies.

We look forward to welcoming a couple of inspirational speakers and yet still retaining enough down time for training, interactive workshops, networking and contemplation.

Our venue, the Brentwood Hotel in Kilbirnie is well-known and conveniently located near the airport, with a sense of calm and serenity about it.

We will be funding any COSS member fully (NOT including travel costs) and inviting anyone else who wishes to attend to do so at the reasonable cost of $300 all inclusive (again, NO travel included) for the two days or $100 per day without accommodation or travel included. Meals and teas on both days are included in the registration fee.

We will be sending out the registration form to everyone very shortly, but in the meantime, for further information, please feel to get in touch with either Ros or Jill at NZCOSS, 04 472 3364 or nzcoss [at] nzcoss [dot] org [dot] nz

Top

Checking out the Scene in ............. Buller

Buller REAP is one of 13 Rural Education Activities Programmes (REAPs) in Aotearoa/New Zealand and a valued member of NZCOSS. We at NZCOSS welcome and appreciate membership from REAPs for their broad based networks and community connections. The first REAP was set up in 1979 and the last in 1982. REAPs provide a "cradle to the grave" educational resource for rural communities.

Each REAP area originally chosen was remote from major education providers. Each also had significantly large numbers of very small schools, area schools and rural high schools which found it difficult to provide an acceptable range of subject options.

Buller REAP was formed in 1981, and established its own premises in 1985.

Early Childhood Education, co-ordination of specialist resources/programmes at schools and community education, remain the heart Buller REAP's work. More recently programmes for youth and the elderly have also become core parts of Buller REAP's delivery into the community.

Buller REAP is contracted to the Ministry of Social Development to help raise awareness and reduce the incidence of elder abuse and neglect. The Positive Ageing Team also provides advocacy and support especially where there is no longer any local government service. An Older and Bolder Activity group which is co-ordinated through REAP is also very popular.

Buller REAP runs an OSCAR approved After School and Holiday programme in the Youth Base in Westport. This former church hall is also becoming the base for other community youth activities including the beginnings of a youth information and services centre. A one-stop shop for all youth services is the ultimate goal. REAP is also contracted to Ministry of Social Development to assist youth transitioning from school into education and the workforce, as well as providing a support service for at risk youth and their families.

Buller REAP has developed into an organisation with close to twenty staff both full and part-time, working in and with communities throughout the Buller. In 2003, Buller REAP moved to the new REAP Centre in Palmerston Street, downtown Westport. The REAP Centre has a meeting/seminar room, a casual resource area and space to meet the demands of our dynamic role in this community.

Top

Upcoming Events of Interest.........

Evidence-Based Practices for Promoting Independence and Enjoyment Among People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

The University of Auckland

Auckland
3 - 4 August
The third annual seminar series on evidence-based practices to assist people with intellectual and developmental disorders is being held at the University of Auckland Tamaki Campus in August. The presentations will appeal to all those who care for and about people with severe intellectual disabilities (and individuals with similar levels of disability).

Audience numbers are restricted to 100 this year, so please register early (registrations close on Friday 17 July). For more information, please contact: (09) 373-7599 ext. 86886 or http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/

Wellington DPA 2009 Annual General Meeting

5 August
Venue: Level 4, Century City Towers, 173-175 Victoria Street, Wellington

Time: 5.30 pm

For more information, please contact Nathan Bond: (04) 970 1890 or nathan [dot] bond [at] paradise [dot] net [dot] nz

Spark International Festival of Media, Arts and Design

Waikato Institute of Technology School of Media Arts
Hamilton
3 - 7 August
Spark Festival is the Hamilton City event that celebrates international contemporary arts, media and design for a week every August. The festival consistently brings together a rare blend of the world's progressive artists, thinkers and 'creatives' to speak about their working practice. The range of disciplines includes music, film, design, photography, painting, sculptor, journalism and TV media. Alongside the presentations is a complementary series of events, workshops & entertainment to bring audiences a full cultural and educational experience that we hope is fun and inspiring.

Keep up with the programme via the website: http://www.spark.net.nz or Susan Wilford at (07) 858 7508

Youth Mentoring Network Conference

Auckland
12 - 13 August
The Youth Mentoring Network is a charitable trust established to promote effective youth mentoring opportunities for young New Zealanders and to provide professional development initiatives for individuals and organisations working in youth mentoring. Learn about:

The Government's vision for young people in New Zealand.
How to access practical tools and resources to assist managing volunteer mentors.
About the importance of 'positive' role models in a young person's life.
What guidance New Zealanders might get from kaupapa Maori, when dealing with young people.
New research in the important fields of Adventure Therapy, the roles of non-parental adults and positive youth development.

For more information visit: http://www.youthmentoring.org.nz/conference09/index.cfm or call (09) 836 4616

Big Band Charity Ball on behalf of Arthritis New Zealand

Whangarei
14 August
Northern Life Brokers Ltd proudly presents the 2009 Big Band Charity Ball featuring the Basin City Big Band. All proceeds to Arthritis New Zealand, Northland.

Dress: Black Tie (Jacket acceptable with tie)
Tickets are available from: Sue at Arthritis New Zealand-Sue (09) 438 5037 or 0800 663 463.
Price: Single $65.00 or a Corporate Table of ten $585.00 - one free ticket.
Email: sue [dot] baker [at] arthritis [dot] org [dot] nz, http://www.arthritis.org.nz

New Zealand Diversity Forum 2009

Human Rights Commission

Town Wellington
Date 22 - 24 August
The New Zealand Diversity Forum brings together a wide range of organisations that all hold their own forums and attract their own audiences under a single umbrella - and these audiences then mix and mingle in other forum events. The focus is on practical outcomes, networking and sharing good practice. A national youth forum brings together youth participants from throughout New Zealand to provide a strong youth perspective to the proceedings.

For more details visit the Forum web page: www.hrc.co.nz/nationaldiversityforum.php

New Zealand Association for the Study of Intellectual Disability, 6th Annual Conference

Hamilton
26 - 27 August
Venue: Novotel Hamilton Tainui, Hamilton
Theme: From Theory to Practice - Knowledge and Practices.
For more details, visit: www.assid.org.auBranches/NewZealand/tabid/61/Default.aspx.

Women Empowered Annual Event

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland
29 August
Women Empowered is a non-profit, annual event for women by women who are leading in their fields. Plug yourself for one day and receive the best possible infusion of mind, body, soul & lifestyle that you deserve.

No door sales. Tickets $129 or two for $240. Table of 6: $936. Secure your seat for only $50 deposit. Early birds receive a $200+ goodie bag. For more information visit: http://www.womenempowered.co.nz/

Public Health Association Annual Conference

University of Otago, Dunedin
1 - 4 September
Theme: The Underpinnings of Public Health Practice: Research and Values
At this conference, the Public Health Association is bringing together public health researchers and practitioners, people who work in strategic management roles, academics, service providers, those in advocacy organisations, government and non-government organisations, District Health Boards, public health services, and community workers.

For conference information visit: http://www.dcms.co.nz/pha.html

Legend of Gene Pitney Evening

Arthritis New Zealand Canterbury Service Centre

Christchurch
5 September
Come and see Jon Palmer from TV1's "Stars in their Eyes" perform his tribute act as Gene Pitney. Jon will be performing with his six-man band at the Hornby Workingmen's Club.

Tickets $15 available from the Hornby Workingmen's Club or Arthritis New Zealand (03) 366 8383. For more information, visit: http://www.arthritis.org.nz

The show starts at 8pm and goes for at least two hours.

SPINZ National Symposium: Culture and Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa

Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (SPINZ)

Wellington
10 - 11 September
A two day symposium; this your chance to increase your knowledge and understanding of effective suicide prevention approaches in our modern, diverse society.

For full conference details visit: http://www.spinz.org.nz/page/90-SPINZ-National-

Post Polio Support Society NZ Annual Conference

Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, Wellington

11 - 12 September
Theme: What about Post-Polio?
Guest Speaker: Professor Richard Faull - International Researcher on Neurodegenerative diseases and holder of the Rutherford Medal, New Zealand's top science award.

Enquiries to JB Munro, Secretary, Post Polio Support Society of NZ Inc, Phone (03) 489 1995 or (021) 452 340 or email jbmunro [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz

Association for Supported Employment in New Zealand (ASENZ) Conference

Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, Wellington
14 - 15 September
Theme: "If the tough get going, when the going gets tough! Where do they go? And what do they do when they get there?"

For more information please visit: http://www.asenz.org.nz/upcomingevents.html

Waikato Health and Disability Trust Expo

Hamilton
18 - 19 September
Theme: Building Your Dreams
The Waikato Health and Disability Expo is your chance to access a wide range of information, products and services to improve your health and wellbeing. Meet the people and places that want to help you and your family live a full and healthy life.
Registrations for organisations wishing to have stalls at the expo are open and a number have already confirmed that they will be involved.

For more information, visit: http://www.healthanddisability.org.nz/ or email Vanessa Walker admin [at] healthanddisability [dot] org [dot] nz

IHC Community Forums

North and South Island Centres
Date 13 June - 26 September
Last year IHC reviewed its governance structure. This resulted in Branch Committees being replaced with local Associations. It also resulted in a series of local forums that give IHC members, families living with intellectual disability and other interested members of the community the opportunity to get together and find out more about IHC.

This is your opportunity to discuss issues about intellectual disability at a local level
meet members of IHC Board, hear the Board report on business activities and how IHC is run, network with families and other interested people, keep up with current issues.

Community Forum dates 2009:

13 June - Palmerston North
18 July - Timaru
29 August - Hamilton
26 September - Dunedin

For more information: http://www.ihc.org.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=1677

National Carers Conference 2009

Carers NZ

Waipuna Events Centre, Auckland

24-25 September

For more information, please call (0800) 777 797 or email: sara [at] carers [dot] net [dot] nz

New Zealand Ethnic Soccer Festival

Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust

University of Waikato sports fields, Hamilton
26 - 27 September
New Zealand's longest standing ethnic soccer festival takes place in Hamilton. The Hamilton tournament, which also includes food, and arts and craft stalls, has been an annual event for the past six years. The tournament is open to both male and female teams from throughout New Zealand.

For more information please visit: http://www.wmrc.org.nz/page/wmrc_89.php

Making Inclusive Education Happen Conference 2009

Inclusive Education Action Group and Standards Plus

Wellington

28 - 30 September

Venue: Te Papa, Cable Street, Wellington.

Theme: Ideas for Sustainable Change
A call for papers and presentations for this event, including an on-line submission form is available at: www.imaginebetter.co.nz/ie2009_callforpapers.php

Volunteering Unleashed - National Volunteering Conference 2009

Wellington

28 - 29 October
The event will reflect the even greater contribution volunteering can contribute to New Zealand if properly resourced and supported. The imperative that this happen is even greater in this challenging time of economic downturn.

General attendance registrations will be open a little later in the year. The early bird registration fee will be $350 (GST incl.). VNZ is also planning to offer a number of reduced registration fees to enable those who cannot afford or fund the full fee to attend. Details will be released when registration formally opens. For more information, please visit: http://www.volunteeringnz.org.nz or call (04) 384-3636

Top

Calendar of National and Street Appeals

If you are planning any fundraising events in the next few months, you may wish to take into account the following appeals:

20-26 July	Women's Refuge Appeal Week
26 July-2 August	Alzheimer's Awareness Week
31 July	DARE Day
3-9 August	Cystic Fibrosis Appeal Week
3 August	Leprosy Mission Annual Appeal
7 August	Amnesty International Aotearoa Street Appeal
10-16 August	VSA's Project Friendship Week
14 August	Wellington Home of Compassion Street Appeal
28 August	Cancer Society Daffodil Day
31 August-6 September	Multiple Scerosis Society of NZ Appeal Week
1 September	Gamble Free Day
4 September	Multiple Sclerosis Carnation Day
7-13 September	Stroke Awareness Week
15 September	World Lymphoma Day
18 September	Loud Shirt Day (on behalf of The Hearing House)
20-27 September	International Week of the Deaf
21-27 September	Deaf Awareness Week
21 September	World Alzheimer's Day
25 September-2 October	Arthritis Appeal Week & Orange National Street Appeal
28 September 4 October	Save the Children Annual Appeal
4-10 October	Habitat Awareness Week
6-11 October	Hospice Awareness Week
9 October	Breast Foundation Pink Ribbon Day
12-18 October	Plunkett Fundraising Week
16 October	Leprosy Mission Launch
20-26 October	Osteoporosis Awareness Week
27 October-2 November	Blind Appeal Week

Top

If your organisation has any issues you would like to see covered in Network News or events coming up which you would like included, please do let us know. Our next deadline will be Monday, 5 October 2009. We welcome any contributions pertinent to our newsletter and provide a wide platform through which your organisation can be heard!

NZCOSS Network News

NZCOSS Network News

MECA Launch

Sharon Torstonson