A social community event taking place today (Saturday August 26) is part of a programme designed to encourage local seniors to feel connected and involved in their local community.

The ‘Midwinter Merriment’ event is an initiative from the Reconnection Seniors programme, which launched late last year, and recently secured funding to run for a second year.

It “aims to help seniors get and stay connected in their community and at home, supporting ‘active ageing’, social participation and healthy lifestyles,” Community Networks/LINK community development manager Joanna Perry told the Wānaka App. 

Reconnecting Seniors was launched by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group and the Reconnecting Seniors Network after Covid-19 left a significant number of this age group increasingly isolated, lonely and vulnerable. 

Community Networks/LINK is one of the 10 organisations which makes up the Reconnecting Seniors Network and Joanna said the programme was going “really well”.

“Particular highlights include monthly Coffee Connection morning teas at the Wānaka Community Hub (second Monday of every month, 10-11.30am), a seniors’ calendar of events and activities in the Upper Clutha Messenger on the last Wednesday at the end of every month, and giftbox initiatives at Christmas and again earlier this month,” she said.

Midwinter Merriment - which will feature a high tea, canapés and live music - is the first large-scale event as part of Reconnecting Seniors and it is fully booked with a waitlist. 

“We’ve been fortunate to receive an additional grant from Te Hau Toka for the project to run for another year, so those who missed out will have a few more events like this one to look forward to in the near future,” Joanna said.

The additional funding will also give the Reconnecting Seniors Network the ability to follow the recommendations of a recently completed senior needs assessment, which received 268 responses, “and advocate for positive change for our senior community”.

“We’re looking forward to building on this momentum for a second year.”

PHOTO: Supplied