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A social club for people with disabilities has been meeting in Ōrewa every week for more than 10 years.
The group is run by the PHAB association (pronouned ‘fab’), a charity that organises 19 social groups from Ōrewa to Papatoetoe with the goal of giving access to social experiences for people with disabilities aged 16 and over.
Group meet-ups alternate weekly between in-house activities at PHAB Ōrewa’s hub at the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre, which include baking and movie nights, the community outings that can be anything from going to the beach to a game of laser tag.
PHAB also puts on large social events throughout the year such as a recent disco where over 200 people attended.
To keep a manageable social dynamic, the group numbers are kept to 15 people but PHAB Operations Manager Chewy Wilson says this doesn’t meet the demand for the group on the Coast.
“I have a waiting list of eight young people for the Ōrewa group, some of whom are from Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa College,” Chewy says.
“We want to start another group in the area but don’t have the funds, so we are asking for sponsors.”
Chewy said it costs around $12,000 to run a group every year.
Besides paying for the costs of activities, the only other cost to group members is an optional $25 donation every term.
Info, or to sponsor the Ōrewa PHAB group or a group member, contact Chewy: chewy@phab.org.nz or phone 09 488 7490.
