One of Catapult’s trustees, Shane McInroe, has been selected to become part of the co-design group working towards a transformation for the disability support system. Associate Health and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner announced the three month co-design process with the disability sector to begin a nationwide transformation of the disability support system. Minister Wagner says “Input from the disability sector will be vital throughout the transformation process, particularly during the design phase. This change is about ensuring disabled people and their families have greater control over their lives as well as the support they receive from government.” Shane’s extensive knowledge and experience of the disability sector will be invaluable to this working group and we look forward to the outcome.
Category Archives: Blog
Check back regularly for interesting features and articles.
Meet Iwa the stress-buster!
A friendly canine welcome awaits people when they come into our place in Barrington St. Iwa, (pronounced Ee-waa), a chihuahua, comes to work each day with Vicky, our receptionist/administrator and spends his time keeping staff company as well as providing a friendly distraction for clients. Research is showing that the mere presence of animals helps us to engage with new people and to cope with stress. We have found that a number of clients enjoy Iwa’s presence, and he helps them to relax a little in the stressful time of job search. Iwa seems to enjoy coming to work too, although he does look forward to the weekend, the same way the rest of us do!
Depression and Anxiety
Interesting Video on Depression and Anxiety. “Depression is 50% more debilitating that most chronic physical illnesses, like angina….treating mental illness should be high on the public agenda.”- Richard Layard of the Centre for Economic Performance.
Champion Charity
How important is it for us to innovate?
“It’s essential to innovate. In our business of employment, we need to be innovative in order to keep up with the current employment trends and attract new income-generating business. There is a surge of innovation within the whole charity sector that has resulted from there being less philanthropic funding available generally. A number of charities are currently searching for innovative ways to be self-sustainable in order to have less reliance on philanthropic funding. For example, although historically we have provided a free service to client through government contracts grants and donations, we have initiated a fee-paying service that aligns with our mission. ” – Ali Brown
Catapult accepts Champion Canterbury Business Award
Catapult wins Champion Canterbury Business Award!
Catapult are delighted to have won the Champion Charity Small Enterprise Award in the Champion Canterbury Business Awards 2016! We’d like to thank the Business Awards for including a section for charitable organisations, and their recognition that ‘not-for-profit’ organisations do need to make an sustainable income to be able to provide their services. Thank you also to Rātā Foundation and The Press who sponsored this section. Credit for this award must go to both the staff of Catapult, who work incredibly hard to provide employment services to often very vulnerable people, and to the trustees, who generously give their time, guidance and governance. Catapult’s founder and patron, Kevin Blogg, also deserves a great deal of credit for his vision 12 years ago of setting up a supported employment service for people with disabilities. Catapult has worked with hundreds of Canterbury employers over the past few years. We are proud to say that Canterbury has a growing number of employers who see the abilities a person has, rather than any disability, and who employ a diverse range of people in their businesses. We welcome more employers to join with us in helping get Cantabrians into work. The people who come to Catapult for our services put their trust in our ability to provide them with excellent service — this award validates that trust.
Working towards an apprenticeship
Thomas (not real name), swearing and cursing, arrived at Catapult very discontented, having had knock back after knock back in his job search. His medical diagnosis of ADHD (inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development) was exhibited in his aggressive approach to our service. Thomas was aware of the way his condition affected his behaviour and he suggested he would like a position that would leave him physically and mentally tired at the end of the day. While working with Thomas,we found that he had done some work experience while at school with a brick- and block-laying company. The company was identified and the owner, who remembered Thomas being a good worker, agreed to have a formal interview with him. Thomas started work the very next day and was enrolled to complete a Site Safe Passport. With some support from both the training organisation and Catapult staff, he successfully completed the passport. Two years later, all Thomas’s hard work, commitment and reliability paid off and he was rewarded with the offer of an apprenticeship with his employer.
Working Towards Better Mental Health
Having a job is a way for all of us to feel we are being useful and contributing to society. Employment also boosts our social connections, gives structure and routine to our lives as well as increasing our financial and social independence.
Teen Lands Dream Job
On Australia’s Sunshine Coast, a teenager with cerebral palsy has landed his dream job driving a forklift with a company called Clayton’s Towing.
Kevin Blogg – Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit!
We are very proud to announce that Kevin Blogg, our founder and patron, has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 New Year’s honours. This is a very well-deserved award and acknowledges the years of work Kevin has put into assisting people with disabilities find paid employment.
