Adventure Specialties Trust Christchurch is using outdoor adventure to grow great communities. During 2018 we have worked with many different community groups and schools custom designing outdoor adventure programmes that support the health, well-being, social development or education objectives of that particular organization. The money that we received from United Way was used to help subsidise our operation costs specifically our rent costs. Helping to underwrite our operation costs is hugely beneficial to our organisation and ultimately benefits all of our programmes as it is one less cost that has to be covered.

We have had a busy and productive year this year with some excellent outcomes from our programmes. One example of the impact we are having is in the small wins within a young person’s life and the sense of confidence and pride they experience. The little moments of clarity or insight that they gain about themselves that will help them grow, develop and become better people. For example our Christchurch manager writes "The other day I was taking a group that were on a holiday programme, we were employed to run two half days’ worth of activities. On the 1st day we went rock climbing and there was one young lady aged 13 who was initially refusing to go anywhere near the rock. After watching the others in the group climb she summoned up enough courage to have a go herself. On her 1st attempt she absolutely nailed it, after that attempt she had a go at a much harder climb and had the same result. The next day we went kayaking at Corsair bay and her initial reaction was the same – ‘no I am not doing it, I don’t want to’. After some good support and encouragement from her youth workers she got in the boat and again flourished - and loved it. At the end of the session I ran a debrief for the group where they were asked to identify something about their days. Her response was ‘I learn’ t that I should try new things, even if I don’t want too and even if I am scared because I might be good at it and they might be lots of fun”. It is hard to express in words the depth of learning there was for her in that new simple truth she discovered about herself. She was so proud of herself and was walking away with a new sense of who she is and a new confidence that she will carry with her into the future."

Thank you Dora Roimata Langsbury, for being on our Board of Trustees with Catalytic Foundation (formerly United Way NZ).

Dora has been our trustee for 2 years and helped the organisation rebrand and develop.  We have been incredible grateful for her wealth of knowledge and perspective she bought to the Catalytic Foundation.

Dora, thank you for your time with us and we wish you all the best for future endeavors!

Photo featuring children enjoying a summer afternoon at the New Brighton Community Gardens in Canterbury!

United Way New Zealand are proud to support the excellent work the New Brighton Community Gardens does in uniting the community and allowing people of all ages to get out and enjoy the beautiful New Zealand sun!