Recreate

About us

Snapshot

Recreate NZ is committed to enhancing the intellectual, social, emotional and physical development and independence of young people with disabilities through quality programmes and services. (Recreate NZ is a fully inclusive organisation that that accepts all children and youth with disabilities regardless of ethnicity, gender or disability).

We do this by running over 120 adventure, recreational and social programmes and events per year, for three age groups: ‘Junior’ (aged 9-14), 'Youth' (aged 15-24), and ‘Young Adults’ (aged 21+)

Programmes and events offered encompass; Adventure camps, Adventure weekends, Adventure days, Recreational Weekend Getaways (to various locations in NZ), 'Urban Youth' socialisation events, and School Holiday programmes and activities. Additionally we also run ‘Mother's Retreat’ respite weekends during the year. Check out our upcoming events for more details on the programmes available.

Governance

Recreate NZ is a registered Charitable Trust (CC41375) overseen by a Board of Trustees. Currently on the Board are 7 Trustees comprising the Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 independent Trustees.

Mission:

To provide quality age-appropriate adventure recreational and social events, for children and young persons with disabilities, to improve their physical, intellectual and emotional well being.

Objectives:

» To provide a conduit to the community to prevent personal isolation;

» To create self esteem, well being, and independence through the chance to participate and succeed in a variety of development camps and programmes that push their boundaries and expose them to new and possibly challenging experiences, in a supportive and encouraging environment;

» To provide positive socialisation experiences to reduce the feeling of isolation and to encourage personal and behavioural improvement with peers and the community in general;

» To provide respite for parents and caregivers by the provision of recreation, holiday programmes and camps for their young people with disabilities (as families are a key focus area for Recreate NZ);

» To create an information and support network for programmes;

» To provide core services provided that align with the objectives of the New Zealand Disability Strategy;

» To facilitate interaction and collaboration with other agencies and community groups.

Benefits:

1. Vulnerable and at risk youth

Youths with high needs automatically put them at a high risk of social isolation or exclusion, which can lead to further social and behavioural issues. Many of our youth have no role models and struggle to find employment, further education or to leave the family environment. Lacking social skills, friends, positive support networks or acceptance by the community puts these youth at risk of, or susceptible to external negative influences.

Youth attending our programmes are less likely to be socially isolated, therefore become more socially accepted, leading to more positive types of behaviour. The alternative of not enjoying these opportunities may lead to these youth becoming a very real burden to the community. Longer term these youth with high needs would not have the independence, skills or self esteem to be self-reliant, relying therefore on their parents, caregivers or the state.

 2.  Families under stress.

Recreate programmes provide respite to those often marginalised families struggling with today's pressures, as well as with the pressures of the increasing emotional and financial costs of a family struggling to cope with the additional demands of raising a child with high needs. These programmes give families time out to recharge and reflect on the family life and reprioritise. By offering time to destress this respite is an effective early intervention and prevention strategy within the home environment - allowing the family time and space to address issues before they arise or get worse. For example; prioritising finances and budgeting, prevention of stress related anger or violence in the home or towards the child.

Recreate programmes put over 1,800 days of respite into the community each year !

Recreate NZ Programmes

Recreate NZ is committed to positively engaging with our participants enabling them to assimilate into and positively contribute to the community they live in. Our junior and youth development programmes demonstrably provide a pathway for this.

The 'tools' we use to achieve our mission and objectives is through the provision of quality adventure development camps, recreational programmes and 'getaways', socialisation events, activities and outings, plus family respite weekends.

These programmes specifically develop.

 - Cognitive skills which may include decision making, focus and concentration, task application and behavioural modification.

 - Physical applications which may include coordination, strength and endurance conditioning, balance and promotion of healthy exercise.

 - Emotional growth which may include communication and relationships, independence, confidence and self esteem. Participants also develop friendships and support networks.

 - Life skills development which may include cooking and healthy eating, public transport training, budgeting, hospitality, and computer skills.

Success:

How do we know our programmes are successful ?

• Fully booked programmes in terms of numbers of participants

• Great feedback from parents/caregivers and participants regarding the positive outcomes for both the participant and the participant’s family following attending the programmes.

• Increasing demand for our services - especially as the programmes become more widely known.

• Behavioural, social, self esteem/confidence and independence changes as noted by our facilitator(s)

• Participants becoming volunteers with Recreate NZ, either on camps or getaways, or helping in the office.

Feedback:

Don’t just take our word for it:

‘I just wanted to say William had a fantastic time in the weekend and enjoyed the rock climbing and kayaking. He was buzzing last night.  Thanks. We will definitely book him on another camp’.- Nicky’

‘This was the best camp I’ve ever been on!’ – Nikkolas

‘Sam has really grown in confidence as a result of all these activities and camps. They are lots of work for you all to organise but so beneficial for our young people’. Cathy

‘Robert has just finished his first semester at MIT, something he would never have considered attempting if it hadn’t have been for attending the recreate programmes these last few years’ - Rowena

‘A big thank you for all you and your team put into the holiday programme…Ana Lily is very bubbly and happy this morning and full of how exciting it was and the new friends she made. Thank you so much!’ - Erica

‘ Tarwyn really enjoyed the camp (as you already know!) and he's asked me to make contact with you today by email to find out the date for the spring camp so he can put it on his calendar!!!’ – Julie

‘Just came back from the Mother’s Retreat’ weekend and had to write to you to thank you sooooo much. Can’t rate the weekend enough! It was wonderful! Everything about it was fabulous. Thoroughly enjoyed all the sessions, the relaxation, the sharing with other mother’s, the food and venue – fantastic!  Can’t WAIT for the next one!’ - Linda

'You have been and continue to be a Godsend to me' Caroline

Donations:

As a Charitable Trust Recreate NZ relies on the goodwill and generosity of funding organisations and individual donors to enable us to continue to offer our invaluable service.

Should you wish to make a donation, bequest or simply want further information please contact us by phoning the number detailed in the ’Contact us’ page, or by using the ‘Send us a message’ option below.