Friendship, help and support at your local Selwyn Centre

Older people in West Auckland now have the chance to meet others and socialise in the friendly, caring environment of a Selwyn Centre.

Centres are open once or twice a week in Massey, Swanson, Henderson, Glen Eden and Blockhouse Bay, offering a programme of social games, gentle exercise, morning tea, outings and excursions, at a nominal fee per guest. 

Part-funded by The Selwyn Foundation, one of New Zealand’s largest charitable providers of quality aged care services, the Centres are for older adults who live alone and/or may be in need of friendship, help and support, regardless of religious or cultural background. Activities are run by a trained coordinator and a team of volunteers, who can also play an advocacy role and liaise with other service agencies on behalf of the guests attending. 

More than 500 people over the age of 65 with varying levels of independence and mobility now attend one of 25 Selwyn Centres each week, with more Centres due to open later this year. Loneliness can be a serious health issue for older people, and research indicates that social interaction with others directly influences general health.  It can also bring psychological benefits, such as delaying the onset of dementia. 

Massey Selwyn Centre coordinator, Tarina Stott, says: “Everyone is welcome. Coming to the Centre is an opportunity to meet new and old friends, and enjoy a cuppa and time for a chat.”

The Massey Selwyn Centre is open on Thursdays from 9.00 am to 12 noon at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 24 Moire Rd. Contact Tarina Stott on 832 5998 or email selwyn@masseyanglican.org.nz for more information.

For the Swanson Centre at St Mark’s Anglican Church, 705 Swanson Road, on Fridays from 10.00 am to 12 noon, contact Lois Tallet on 832 4425 or email office@stmichaels.net.nz

For the Henderson Centre at St Michael’s Anglican Church, 425 Great North Rd, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, contact Audrey Jones on 838 8380 or 416 4474 or email office@stmichaels.net.nz.

For the Glen Eden Centre at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, 10 Clayburn Rd, on Wednesdays from 10.00 am to 12 noon, contact Deryck Summerfield on 813 0708 or email h8dsummerfied@slingshot.co.nz.

4 Seniors @ the Bay is held at the Church of the Saviour, 2 Heaphy St, Blockhouse Bay from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Mondays, and 9:30 am to 1.00 pm on Wednesdays. Contact Sylvia Richardson on 627 8779 or email sylvia@cots.org.nz for more information.

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