Community support for community based service

More Enliven clients can now safely enjoy the outdoors thanks to community support.

The Enliven Centre in Pakowhai Road is a special place that provides respite and day programmes for the older people living independently in Hawke’s Bay.  The beginning of spring brought excitement and commotion when Fulton Hogan arrived to start work on a planned concrete path.  People that attend the Enliven Centre enjoy the vast outdoor area and the path is the first step towards developing a safe accessible surface to walk around the lovely large lawns.

Physical activity is an integral component of the programmes at the Enliven Centre and the path will offer a 100m circuit for clients to walk around.  “Last summer we had a walking challenge with a mowed strip” Enliven Centre Manager Rebekah Charlton states. “Prizes were won for the first to reach 1km in a day (ten circuits) and the first to reach 1km over a few weeks.  It was amazing to see the improvement in people.” 

As more research highlights the benefit of sunshine and green spaces on general wellbeing the outdoor area at the Enliven Centre is a great asset.  Ms Charlton envisages an outdoor exercise circuit, a water feature, a sensory garden and restful seating to add to their petanque court, herb garden, swing seat and raised garden beds. 

Community support is invaluable and appreciated by the Enliven Centre. We wish to thank Higgins Bequest Trust, Proline and Havelock North Rotary Club for donating to Enliven, which make initiatives like this possible.  Thank you also to Fulton Hogan and Total Fencing Solutions for their assistance in achieving this milestone. 

Rebekah would love to hear from any volunteers willing to assist with moving all the soil and planting the garden beds at the Enliven Centre.  Please contact our Volunteer Manager  on 06 877 8193 or volunteer@psec.org.nz to help. 

If you would like to donate to Enliven to help support older people in Hawke’s Bay stay as independent as possible please visit our website www.psec.org.nz/donate/donate-to-enliven  

Image captions: 

1. Enliven Centre Manager, Rebekah Charlton with the start of the Enliven garden path
2. Enliven Centre clients – Tony Hurrelbrink, Marlene Sampson and Robin Harvey with Centre Manager Rebekah Charlton.  They are excited about the new addition to the Enliven Centre outdoor area
3. The new path!
4. Enliven clients watch on as the path is being laid
5. Watching concrete dry at the Enliven Centre

Media Release - 19 September 2016