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Make a letter box in the shape of a cow – no problem! Take on a 50km walking challenge – why not! Build a bar inside your house – let’s give it a go! When it comes to their goals and dreams, the NDIS participants at BCR Communities won’t hear the words ‘that’s too hard’ or ‘we don’t offer that here.’ The BCR NDIS support team take the participant’s goals very seriously and while not everything is possible, every attempt is made to support the participant to achieve them. For recently appointed BCR Work, Life & Training Coordinator, Tracy Hughes, it was this person centred approach that attracted her to the role. “Every disability service would love to offer person centred supports but BCR Communities is the first organisation I have worked for that is able to deliver it,” Tracy said. “We don’t expect participants to just slot in with established programs, we find out what they want to achieve and then design a personalised program around those goals.” “I have a strong connection to the community in the Bay & Basin and I am really excited about working with the schools, participants and their families to create the kind of NDIS support services that they really want and need – right here locally.” Proving anything is possible, NDIS participant Jessica has achieved her goal of building the cow-themed letter box she designed herself.  With the support of Tracy, 16-year-old School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) participant Ryeleigh, took on the ‘50ks in May Challenge’, achieving his first ever fitness goal and raising hundreds of dollar for Multiple Sclerosis. While 19-year-old NDIS participant Bailey has started learning basic carpentry skills with smaller projects as he works up to building his dream bar at home. If you would like to find out more about BCR Communities NDIS supports, phone 1300 222 748, email info@BCRcommunities.com or visit BCRcommunities.com

We are excited to welcome Leonie Way to the BCR Communities team as our new Lifestyle Activities Coordinator. Leonie has many years of experience organising programs and activities for NDIS participants and is really looking forward to applying her knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to aged care as well as disability. Leonie has spent her first two weeks getting to know the rest of the team, learning all the many, many aged care acronyms and busily planning a social, fun and exciting calendar of activities for clients in the northern Shoalhaven area. When not at work, Leonie enjoys having a chat, listening to music, going for walks in nature and she really loves cooking, especially Thai! She has a passion for adventure and loves to try new places and activities but is also partial to a nap! She can't wait to meet all our Social Group clients over the coming weeks.

Our BCR Communities Youth Collective participants have been working hard to organise the first Sanctuary Point Youth Markets on Friday 3 May from 2pm to 6pm at the BCR Communities Wellness Garden. As well as a stall of handmade products and gifts perfect for Mother's Day, there will be outdoor games, food, entertainment and information about youth employment, volunteering and learning pathways. See you there!

BCR Communities’ new ‘Ls to Ps Driver Mentoring Program’ is about to hit the road and the search is on for local volunteers willing to help disadvantaged learner drivers in the Shoalhaven to get their licence. A driver’s licence opens up a world of opportunity and having one in a regional area means better access to employment, education, training and social activities. BCR Communities CEO, Heather Marciano, said the organisation is partnering to deliver this urgently needed service in the Shoalhaven, especially for disadvantaged young people, newly arrived migrants and people with a disability. “While the required 120 hours of driving time a learner needs keeps everyone safer on the roads, it does make getting a licence very challenging for some people,” Heather said. “Not everyone in our community has access to a vehicle or a licensed family member or friend who can mentor them for the required time.” “We think this volunteering opportunity will be very rich and rewarding for anyone looking to broaden their connection to their community and have a real life-changing impact on the people they mentor,” Heather said. Volunteer mentors need to be fully licensed, with a good driving history, and available for a minimum of one hour per week to help learners gain on-road experience in different conditions. BCR Communities vehicles are supplied for mentoring sessions. If you are an experienced driver, have a positive attitude, patience and a little free time, BCR Communities would love to hear from you. To express your interest or to find out more about volunteering for the ‘Ls to Ps Driver Mentoring Program’ please email info@BCRcommunities.com phone 1300 222 748 or visit BCRcommunities.com/Job-Board. Check out this video from the Driver Mentoring Program (Y-Drive) operating in the Eurobodalla region to hear what Driver Mentors say about the experience!

Even though she enjoyed a very fulfilling career as a schoolteacher, 70-year-old Robin Gunter felt her life really began in 1995 when she became engaged to Huxley Gunter. It was a deep and enduring love with the pair sharing a passion for teaching, creating, sailing, travelling and adventures. “Hux was the most wonderful and fascinating person I have ever met and we adored each other.” Robin said. After getting married, Huxley moved to the Bay and Basin where Robin was teaching at Huskisson Public School. At the same time, the busy pair were running a beef cattle farm on their property out past Crookwell. Their life together took a turn when Huxley felt severe chest pains and suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, after open heart surgery and rehabilitation, he made a full recovery, but the experience made the couple think about what they really wanted and Robin decided to retire from teaching. “It made us realise that life is very precious,” Robin said. “We decided to reduce our farm commitments, take things more slowly, pursue new interests and reduce stress.” “We joined the local sailing club and learned how to sail which was so much fun. In winter we would travel in our caravan with our much loved dog – a gorgeous Maremma. “Our lives were filled with happiness. Every day was a celebration of life and it could not have been more wonderful.” On a cold morning in July 2017, Huxley and Robin were enjoying a cup of tea together when Huxley suddenly and unexpectedly suffered a massive heart attack. Tragically, he couldn’t be revived and Robin’s life was completely upended. The grief Robin experienced was overwhelming and she is thankful for the close friends and relatives who have generously given their caring support. Last year, Lucy, one of those close friends, encouraged Robin to join the BCR Wellness Classes run by Bek and Gabby from Jervis Bay Physiotherapy – a decision she said was life changing. “I am so glad I joined. The other members and I feel that our lives have become more positive through the social connections we are making, as well as the actual exercise classes. The group has become so strong now that we join together for coffee once a week with much chat and laughter,” Robin said. “Because of this social connection many of us are now also attending social group activities and bus trips organised by BCR Communities. “From my life’s experiences, I have learned to appreciate every day and every experience and enjoy amazing friends.” BCR Communities would like to welcome Robin as a volunteer member of our newly created BCR Consumer Advisory Body. The group will meet four times a year to give feedback on the strengths of current BCR programs and suggest possibilities for improvement or additional services or programs. If you are interested in joining the Advisory body, please email CEO@BCRcommunities.com

Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible women at BCR and across our communities. Today, we join with women around the world to celebrate all the inspirational women making a difference every day. This year's theme asks us to imagine a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive where difference is valued and celebrated.

BCR Communities has just wrapped up our 'Summer Days are Fun Days' school holiday program. Thanks to funding from the NSW Government - Office of Regional Youth, we were able to create wonderful holiday memories for deserving young people in our communities. The experiences were curated around getting participants out of their comfort zones, building confidence, fostering team work, learning new skills and just having fun. They scaled the indoor rock climbing wall, held a python at the zoo, took on the treetop climb, played mini-golf and ten pin bowling, created their own jewellery, learnt about the traditional culture of where we live and had a whole lot of fun at Funland! The best part of the program was seeing how the kids supported and encouraged each other to try the activities and the friendships which formed. Friendships we hope they will take with them into the new school year.

Are you a young person with a NDIS plan (or are you thinking of getting one)? Create unforgettable memories these school holidays with the BCR Work, Life and Training – Two FREE Days of Summer Fun! Yes, that’s right - entry, tickets, transport and refreshments are free! Disability inclusive and fully supervised by BCR support staff. Bus leaves and drops off from Sanctuary Point.

Moving home at any age can be a stressful experience but retiring to a new community when you are older can feel especially isolating and overwhelming. BCR Communities client, 85-year-old Vasanthi (Ve) Rao, knows all about the excitement and challenges that comes with moving, not just to a new community but to a new country. When she was 29-years-old, Ve moved with her husband Bob and baby daughter from India to England. It was a culture shock and she soon discovered that not everyone in 1960s Birmingham was welcoming to new arrivals - one neighbour refused to acknowledge her for 20 years. Ve said she found her place in her new community through her work as a high school maths teacher and then as the principal of an all-girls school. After 30 years in the UK, Ve and Bob decided to do it all again, this time retiring to Wollongong Australia to be close to where their daughter was now living. No longer working, the couple threw themselves into volunteering instead and soon built up a large friendship group. They had 17 happy years in Wollongong before starting over yet again in a retirement village in Nowra. “When we first moved to Nowra, I felt really lonely,” Ve said. “First it was the bushfires and then it was the COVID lockdowns so meeting people was hard.” “But I’m a naturally happy, outgoing and social person so I just started doing different activities and trying to bring people together with exercise classes, line dancing, sharing food, and going out together.” “I’m now running a chair exercise group and about 15 people come to the class. We try to keep moving, and we do meditation and mindfulness as well.” ‘Keep moving’ is Ve’s mantra for life and she said she wouldn’t have coped with the recent passing of her beloved husband without keeping active and involved in her retirement community. “Sometimes older people will immediately say ‘oh no, that is not for me,’ but we have to keep trying new things and keep an open mind,” Ve said. “Talk to people, communicate, laugh, be social, be friendly and practice mindfulness. When you go out for a walk don’t just walk, use all your senses – look at the clouds, smell the flowers, touch the leaves, taste the berries.” “Without doing this, I wouldn’t have survived Bob’s passing. If I wasn’t living in a retirement village I would have felt very isolated but there there are many of us in the same boat here and we support each other.” Ve has in home support from BCR Communities with cleaning and shopping so she can continue living independently in her own home within the retirement village surrounded by her friends.

Hundreds of locals from the Bay and Basin packed the BCR Youth & Community Centre in Sanctuary Point for the local pop-up Thrive Together Fair. The Fair supports people who may be struggling with escalating costs of living. BCR Communities partnered with Shoalhaven City Council to put on the event which was a mini version of the successful Thrive Together Fair held in Bomaderry earlier this year. With over 20 different community services setting up stalls to provide information, advice and resources, the fair was an opportunity for locals to connect with each other while finding out more about the breadth of support services available to them. Community Project Officer for BCR Communities, Rohanna Holland said while the fair has been running for three years in Nowra, this is the first time pop-ups had been held in other regions of the Shoalhaven. “We decided to work together with Shoalhaven City Council to bring Thrive Together to Sanctuary Point because for some people who are already struggling, getting to Bomaderry is not easy,” Rohanna said. “Having it at the Sanctuary Point Youth and Community Centre meant it was easily accessible for Bay and Basin locals, and parents could pop in after school and preschool pick-ups.” Community members connected with local welfare, government and health agencies, found tenancy and housing support, picked up free care packs and clothing, received financial information and assistance with fines, debts and legal issues, and found out about NDIS and Aged Care services. While the grown-ups were chatting to stall holders and catching up with each other, the Curious and Creative students from Vincentia High kept the kids entertained with games, and activities, and a fabulous sausage sizzle was provided by the Jervis Bay Lions Club.

The BCR Communities team had a fantastic night at the Community Industry Group - Illawarra Forum Community Service Awards last Friday night. A big congratulations to our WHS and Quality Coordinator, Jodi Evans for winning the Leadership Award (large organisation), Rochelle McHattan who was awarded a Highly Commended in the Sector Star of the Future category and our wonderful Community Services Team who also received a Highly Commended in the Above and Beyond Team category. We are so proud of all our finalists and the work they do for our organisation and our communities!

We are so excited to announce that we are finalists in seven categories of the 2023 Community Service Awards. Congratulations to the whole BCR Communities Team! Our finalist categories are: A Brilliant Idea Individual – Karen Chambers, Youth & Community Team Leader A Brilliant Idea Team – Community Services and Social Connections Team Above & Beyond Individual – Brad Slaughter Above & Beyond Team – Community Services Team for the Community Fair Business Partnership – BCR Communities & ExSitu Sector Star of the Future – Rochelle McHattan Leadership – Jodi Evans Thank you to Community Industry Group for organising the Awards and congratulations to all the other finalists - we look forward to a wonderful night of celebrations.