Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter of 2017! We start the year sharing some stories that demonstrate our belief that together we are stronger.
Every day we see how life changing a personal connection can be, whether it is over a meal at Merge Café, or while growing veges together in a communal garden. That is one of many reasons why Lifewise built on the work of the Takapuna Methodist Church to launch Neighbours Day in 2009 – to encourage personal wellbeing and strengthen community spirit. Over the years, the event has gone national and our surveys show that being neighbourly leads to an improved sense of well-being and also an increased sense of safety.
I’m sure you know how good it feels to be a part of something bigger, how valued you feel, especially when you see how your input helped to achieve amazing results. Here at Lifewise we are seeing some exciting results of inclusion and collaboration, be that in our partnership with Auckland City Mission on the Housing First programme, or in the people with lived experience who have helped to shape this unique, evidence-based strategy for ending homelessness.
Your support has given us the confidence to make bold strides in this direction. And for that I cannot thank you enough. I look forward to sharing with you more successes along our journey towards connected, just, and inclusive communities. Together we are stronger.
Warm regards,
Moira Lawler
Chief Executive, Lifewise