BAF has partnered with the Selwyn Foundation and local Taranaki funders to help prevent social isolation of older people throughout the Waikato and Taranaki regions.
Through these partnerships we have established Selwyn Centres in Waikato and Tainui Day Centres in Taranaki as a response to the growing social isolation issue for elderly.
The centres offer social activities, gentle exercise, friendship, laughter, outings, help and support to those over 65 who may be living alone or have limited opportunity to get out and about.
The programme is community based and is designed to protect older people from social isolation or loneliness. Although based mainly in the Anglican Church premises, the centres serve older people from across the entire community.
Loneliness can be a serious health issue for older people. Research confirms that remaining socially connected has a positive effect on general health and can also bring psychological benefits, such as delaying the onset of dementia. Indeed, the importance of social connections for wellbeing has led researchers to call on health professionals to take loneliness as seriously as other health risks.
For older people who may be without close family or friends, or who have limited opportunity for social engagement, Selwyn and Tainui Centres provide a chance to meet with others of the same age group within their local area each week. They provide companionship and shared interests in a supportive environment which, in turn, contributes to older people staying active, healthy and independent in their own homes.
In Waikato we have centres in Cambridge and Morrinsville and in the Hamilton suburbs of Melville, Chartwell and Dinsdale. In Taranaki we have centres in Opunake, Patea and Waverley.
BAF continues to look at ways to expand the programme to more communities in the two regions. If you would like further information please send us a message using the contact us page on our website.
To contact our centres please use the contact information below:
Selwyn Centres Waikato
| Cambridge
Contact Yvonne Johnston phone 021 027 08306 St Andrew’s Centre 85 Hamilton Rd, Cambridge
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Morrinsville
Contact Mary Allen phone 021 081 82603 St Matthew’s Parish Hall 269 Thames St, Morrinsville
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| Dinsdale, Hamilton
Contact Judy Skinner phone 0800 473 599 St David’s Selwyn Centre 160 Rifle Range Road, Dinsdale, Hamilton
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Melville, Hamilton
Contact Kathy Brown phone 027 416 0222 St Luke’s Selwyn Centre 8 St Luke’s Pl, Melville, Hamilton
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| Chartwell, Hamilton
Contact Helen McAlpine phone 027 233 6298 Chartwell Cooperating Parish, St Alban’s 126 Comries Road, Chartwell, Hamilton
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Taranaki Day Centres
| Opunake
Contact Jenny Cavaney phone 027 379 6844 St Barnabas Parish 141 Tasman Street, Opunake
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Waverley
Contact Merissa Dalton phone 021 24411999 Church of Good Shepard Weraroa Road, Waverley |
| Patea
Contact Tipene Anaru phone 021 08825947 Hunter Shaw Building 29 Victoria Street, Patea
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