Recreate NZ - Sarah Stokes

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  • The On the Move Programme is a Life Skills module we offer at Recreate NZ dedicated to increasing accessibility and reducing barriers by exploring a variety of exercises and activities in a safe and supportive environment. Each week, participants immerse themselves in different types of movement, healthy eating education and discussing healthy habit insights during morning sessions. Subsequently, they venture into the community to engage in these activities, which include swimming, gym classes, biking, and more! The primary purpose of this programme is to provide quality experiences across a range of activities, fostering ongoing motivation for a sustainable active lifestyle.
  • In Waikato, there are limited opportunities for rangatahi with disabilities to engage in sports within a safe environment. Thus, our ability to offer a platform for introducing physical activities at entry level to rangatahi has enabled them to explore new interests, which they can now pursue beyond their involvement with Recreate NZ. Additionally, we received feedback from parents who were enthusiastic to see a program like this in Waikato. They reported facing challenges in getting rangatahi to maintain active lifestyle choices.



    In July 2020, Recreate NZ set up a National Youth Board to make sure our rangatahi voices are heard.



    Youth Board 2021:



    “What sort of activities could Recreate run within programmes that will motivate young people to get active and stay fit and healthy in their lives?

    - Biking programme- trails or on the road and safety.

    - Running group- goal could be doing a run.

    - Zumba courses- dance classes and yoga.

    - Recreate could run a mini–iron man/women.

    - Soccer- Regional tournament

    - Recreate- special Olympic games.

    - Obstacle course

    - Triathlon- interregional

    - Trampolining”



    Recreate NZ was able to take this feedback and establish our OTM Life skills Programme. This Programme was developed by participants for participants in collaboration with our programme coordinators and facilitators making it a unique and valuable programme.



    We are also committed to ensuring that OTM is accessible by ensuring the cost to the programme was small by creating strong relationships with community centres and gaining funding.
  • On the Move (OTM) Programme focuses on experiential learning and meaningful personal growth opportunities for rangatahi with intellectual disabilities, rangatahi leaders and community members. In doing this we aim to develop the competencies of youth throughout their lives, while also advocating for societal change that will allow more diversity and inclusion in Aotearoa.



    OTM Programme was developed to help motivate and create confidence for rangatahi to get active and stay fit and healthy throughout their lives. The OTM Programme is tailored for 4-8 rangitahi per Programme with over 160 rangatahi benefiting to date nationally and makes use of community facilities and engages with the community for their activities. Over the 12 months that we have been running the OTM Programme in Waikato we have endeavoured to cover a large variety of physical activities including Yoga, Karate, Boxing, Gym classes, Dancing, Biking, Obstacle Courses, and more! Participants have gained confidence in a group setting with people with similar abilities and needs, it has created a safe environment for them to try new activities without fear of judgement or exclusion.



    Recreate NZ also offers hundreds of valuable opportunities to rangatahi volunteers for leadership, mentor development and service to the community. Our On the Move Programme is supported by volunteers. Most of our volunteers are young people, aligning with our value ‘youth supporting youth’, leading to a more inclusive New Zealand. The investment in our volunteers is crucial, they provide culture, new insights and ideas, connections, advocates, and friendship.
  • On the move (OTM) is one of our most community integrated programmes we run here at Recreate NZ. Each programme day the participants are interacting with a community-based sport and recreation facility and members. Recreate NZ Coordinators work closely with community operators and instructors to ensure the best expertise and coaching is provided for a variety of programmes. Some of our recreation network includes, Adventure Specialties, Jump, Green Wave Raglan, Local City Councils, etc. It is through these interactions and collaborations that we can dismantle barriers and change societies perception towards disability.



    Recreate NZ inspires the community to think differently, to understand different disabilities and the behaviours or obstacles that may create social access barriers. We believe we have given countless people and organisations new perspective, if only by way of the reminder that potential is individually recognised. “Recreate bring groups out to visit us on a regular basis and they are a pleasure to work with. We take them Rafting, Caving, Canoeing Tramping, High Roping and Rock Climbing… As a centre we increase our staff ratios to assist in this process. The staff they bring have great relationships with the students and between us we challenge, encourage, assist, and celebrate in what the students achieve while they are with us.” Blue Mountain Adventure Centre.
  • Recreate NZ has seen increasing demand for this programme as evidenced by our waitlists, we would love to be able to extend this to more participants in future with the help of volunteers. We also continue to receive feedback from our Youth Board who reflected on midweek programmes such as OTM “Find all the exercises challenging, enjoy being part of a group, and trying new things as a team.” 08/2023.



    Recreate NZ gains feedback from participants and parents who have attended Recreate NZ Programmes. Here is some post-programme feedback from our On the Move whanau.



    Feedback from Darlene Davison (Alex’s Mum) – “It was great to see Alex enthusiastic to try some new physical activities. She always loves participating but will not initiate anything herself. After chatting with her about the new activities we decided that we could engage someone to take her out bike riding regularly.”



    Feedback from Tiffiney Perry (Jack Harvey’s Mum) “Jack really enjoyed the Life Skills program that Recreate offered this year. He finished school last year and this course offered him a chance to prepare for life after school. He really enjoyed the cooking and recreational activities and just a chance to meet new people and make friends for life. Recreate has been amazing for Jack in many ways and has really filled in the gap after school life. The Life Skills course acted as a transition for his next step in life and flatting and being more independent from Mum and Dad.”
  • We have received great feedback from On the Move (OTM) programme participants. We have seen them grow throughout the term, some over 2 terms, and we have seen that growth and confidence throughout our other programme streams they attend. See below for some feedback from a few of our participants:



    Feedback from Alex Davison (former participant) – “Loved it!! (Not that she hasn’t loved every single Recreate activity she has done in the last ten odd years) But she raved about it every week. She was super excited to try the new activities that she hasn’t done before. We heard all about the day’s activity in detail every week. Stand outs – biking, surfing, and karate.”



    OTM Reflection from participant Nicole

    • What have you learnt at On the Move?

    I have learnt about the boxfit and yoga

    • Did you try something new?

    I tried mountain biking so well

    • What was the most challenging activity?

    For the golf ball wee bit tricky for me (we were hitting golf balls at the driving range)

    • What have you enjoyed about on the move?

    I have enjoyed about the karate moves so well

    • How do you feel about exercise after this course?

    Leap I did so well, lots of exercise, include ninja valley as well

    • What has been your favourite part of this course?

    I did lots of swimming, heaps, and trikes as well, kayaking – I have miss out that course sorry



    Please see attached pictures!
  • Hamilton City
  • Commitment to Accessibility & Inclusion