Vanessa Lowndes Centre
The Vanessa Lowndes Centre is about building confidence and preparing people with mental, physical or intellectual disabilities for employment.
Programmes on offer include fitness and health, cooking and meal preparation, horticulture and gardening, numeracy and literacy.
Programmes on offer include fitness and health, cooking and meal preparation, horticulture and gardening, numeracy and literacy.
Educate and nurture
The Centre regularly has people on its programme and staff guiding and nurturing them through programmes and activities.
Vanessa Lowndes, the woman who gave her name to the centre, was the daughter of Colin Lowndes. A successful business man, Colin had donated funds for the first Centre which opened at Gisborne Boys High School in 1969.
Vanessa Lowndes, the woman who gave her name to the centre, was the daughter of Colin Lowndes. A successful business man, Colin had donated funds for the first Centre which opened at Gisborne Boys High School in 1969.
Employment
Vanessa Lowndes Employment Services helps people with disabilities into the workforce.
Whanau learn about team work, timeframes, and what it's like to have colleagues. Whanau are paid, and over the years have worked everywhere from packhouses, offices, timber yards, garden stores, supermarkets and health organisations including Turanga Health. Read Aaron Harding's PGG Wrightson story.
Whanau learn about team work, timeframes, and what it's like to have colleagues. Whanau are paid, and over the years have worked everywhere from packhouses, offices, timber yards, garden stores, supermarkets and health organisations including Turanga Health. Read Aaron Harding's PGG Wrightson story.
Kapa haka
Singing with a group never fails to leave everyone feeling fabulous!
That's how whanau and staff feel after waiata practice at the Vanessa Lowndes Centre. Manager Laura Biddle says singing delivers a host of physical and emotional benefits including improved mindset, confidence and self esteem. Read more about Bos Apelu and Leanne Smiler and what singing means to them.
That's how whanau and staff feel after waiata practice at the Vanessa Lowndes Centre. Manager Laura Biddle says singing delivers a host of physical and emotional benefits including improved mindset, confidence and self esteem. Read more about Bos Apelu and Leanne Smiler and what singing means to them.
Life skills
The Vanessa Lowndes Centre is giving whanau skills required in order to be independent.
By teaching cooking, shopping, basic maths and reading, whanau can learn to be self-sufficient no matter what their living circumstances. Having an onsite catering kitchen at the Vanessa Lowndes Centre means whanau can learn cooking skills in the context of real life situations. Food hygiene and safety complement each lesson. Read more including the scrumptious chocolate recipe used by Thomas Mokemoke!
By teaching cooking, shopping, basic maths and reading, whanau can learn to be self-sufficient no matter what their living circumstances. Having an onsite catering kitchen at the Vanessa Lowndes Centre means whanau can learn cooking skills in the context of real life situations. Food hygiene and safety complement each lesson. Read more including the scrumptious chocolate recipe used by Thomas Mokemoke!
Physical exercise and nutrition
For many people getting out the door can be the biggest hurdle to taking regular exercise.
At the Vanessa Lowndes Centre whanau love the chance to stay fit as they manage their own mental, physical or intellectual disabilities. Manager Laura Biddle says its vital to overall health and wellbeing and as a result staff are always finding ways to overcome any barriers whanau might have and get them physically active. Read about what whanau are doing.
At the Vanessa Lowndes Centre whanau love the chance to stay fit as they manage their own mental, physical or intellectual disabilities. Manager Laura Biddle says its vital to overall health and wellbeing and as a result staff are always finding ways to overcome any barriers whanau might have and get them physically active. Read about what whanau are doing.
