Safety and fun join to get more support

Three fun days have been organised for South Taranaki and everyone’s welcome.

The events which will take place in Manaia, Hawera and Patea throughout April have been organised by the Neighbourhood Support Group who are eager to keep people engaged in their system.

Co-ordinator Wendy Foreman said the days out would be a lot of fun, but would also remind communities of the importance of support groups.

‘‘The aim for us is to get people more actively involved in Neighbourhood Support,’’ she said.

‘‘We’re here to support our communities and make people feel safer in their own homes.’’

Each day out, which will run from 10am - 2pm, will be slightly different as varying community groups have offered to attend the different locations.

However, Foreman could promise some similarities at the events too.

She said there will be demonstrations and information from the New Zealand Fire Service, New Zealand Police, and also free electric blanket checks.

Chris Perrett, a registered electrician, will have a team at each location to complete the checks.

‘‘We’re going to have guys there looking over electric blankets and testing them, seeing if they’re still safe to be used,’’ he said. ’’Then we’ll test tag them to say that they can be utilised for the next 12 months.’’

Perrett said electric blankets

‘‘We're here to support our communities and make people feel safer.’’

Wendy Foreman

should be professionally checked every couple of years, if not examined well at home annually.

Foreman said the Neighbourhood Support Group would have a stall set up too, for those interested in joining the group.

She said recently there had been feedback from communities who were saying they were involved in support groups through the internet - which didn’t sit well with her.

She said there wasn’t a form of confidentiality with those online groups, nor did they have the community partnerships this group has, like the NZ Police and NZ Fire Service.

The events will take place at Manaia Primary School on April 8, Ramanui Primary School in Hawera on April 9, and at Patea Domain April 30.

Anyone interested in the events can go to Wendy on 027 426 2010.

The crew prepare for the safety days: Chairman Lionel Shaw, electrician Chris Perrett, Constable Rebecca Sherie, committee member Ian Bishop, Ramanui School principal Kathryn Moss, co-ordinator Wendy Foreman.