Watch video: Rowan Apartments Groundbreaking event, 13 August 2024
This week marked another historic day for the Hawke’s Bay community as Enliven Disability breaks ground on the Rowan Apartments accessible housing project. The impact project is an initiative that will transform the lives of younger disabled people in Hawke’s Bay. This new development is more than a building; it’s a cornerstone of hope for those who have long been in desperate need of a fit for purpose accessible home.
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The Rowan Apartments are designed to provide a supportive and empowering environment for younger community members living with complex physical disabilities. Currently, many of these individuals find themselves in aged care facilities, unsuitable or unhealthy environments, or relying on ageing parents for support. This project is about giving people the dignity, choice, and control they deserve. The new housing will have a positive ripple effect, supporting the individuals as well as whānau and the wider Hawke’s Bay community.
The groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday 13 August 2024 follows a blessing earlier in the week. At the groundbreaking, local leaders, including Catherine Wedd, MP for Tukituki, Katie Nimon, MP for Napier and Northern Hawke’s Bay, and Kirsten Wise, Mayor of Napier, alongside Enliven Disability Service Manager Andrew Wordsworth, joined hands with Enliven flatters (residents) and community members to mark the start of this important project. The well attended event symbolises the local community’s collective commitment to this vital cause.
Photo: Rowan Apartments Groundbreaking event, 13 August 2024: Catherine Wedd (MP for Tukituki), Evelyn Churchill (Rowan Apartments Project Committee), Andrew Wordsworth (Enliven Disability Service Manager), Chad Cooper and Geoffrey Edwards (Rowan flatters), Katie Nimon (MP for Napier and Northern Hawke’s Bay), Kirsten Wise, Mayor of Napier.
The journey has just begun, and we need your support to make Rowan Apartments a reality. With a fundraising goal of $3.5 million, the community has already shown incredible generosity, pledging over $1 million. However, more help is needed to reach the target and ensure that these deserving Kiwis have the accessible apartments they need.
We are calling on all philanthropists, businesses, and kind-hearted individuals to get involved. You can help build Rowan Apartments by giving a brick, starting at $100. Each brick will contribute to a digital supporter wall, a lasting testament to our community spirit, and generosity. There are different ways you can support. If you would like to contribute with a larger gift you can partner with us to create a package that suitably reflects your giving goals.
To donate or find out more about ways you can contribute, visit giveabrick.org.nz, email debbie.bakkerus@giveabrick.org.nz, or call 0800 002 953. You can also make a bank transfer to 03 0658 0005676 06 (reference ‘RA’, phone and last name).
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Let’s come together to build a better life for everyone. Every brick counts, and with your support, together we will ensure that Rowan Apartments becomes something that we can all be proud of. Join in to build a lasting local impact—one brick at a time. For more information, please call 0800 002 953, email debbie.bakkerus@giveabrick.org.nz, or visit giveabrick.org.nz.
