Make a BIG CHANGE with your small change on Giving Tuesday

1 December 2014

“Make a BIG CHANGE with your small change on Giving Tuesday,” says CCS Disability Action.


CCS Disability Action is asking all New Zealanders to give a little on Giving Tuesday, December 2. With almost one quarter of News Zealanders recently identifying as disabled in Statistics New Zealand’s 2013 Survey, the work that they do supporting, advocating for and lobbying on behalf of disabled people is now more vital than ever. Next year, CCS Disability Action will have been carrying out this important work in New Zealand for 80 years.

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation. Together, they rallied different sectors together to ‘give back’ and support local not-for-profits, causes and communities. This first Giving Tuesday saw over 2500 not-for-profit and business partners participate in different ways that not only resulted in awareness being raised of key issues but encouraged loads of ordinary people to get on board and think about others on that day.

For the first time this year, New Zealand is joining this global event. More than 250 Not For Profit organisations have banded together to show the world what Kiwis can do when we all pull together. CCS Disability Action is asking New Zealanders to be a part of this worldwide movement for good and kick off their giving season this year by giving to our organisation so we can continue working in our local communities.

CCS Disability Action says, “It’s a wonderful way to directly support people with disabilities, their families and whanau so they can live happier, more fulfilling lives. Giving to CCS Disability Action on Giving Tuesday is a great way for Kiwis to show they care about helping create a world that includes all people.”

People like Josh Flannagan, whose inspiring story was recently aired on Attitude TV. Socially isolated, bullied and fallen through the cracks of our education system, Josh was just 16 when he was forced to leave school. Luckily, he teamed up with Lee Dickinson, Employment Co-ordinator at CCS Disability Action and his life began to change. Two years and a lot of hard work later, and Josh is a totally different person. Employed full time by Carla and Pete Townsend at Trinity Valley Farms riding school as Farm Manager, he is responsible for looking after 21 horses. Josh is a much more confident, sociable person and he’s uncovered a wonderful gift! It turns out that Josh is something of a horse whisperer.

“They don’t judge me like some humans do,” says Josh of his relationship with horses, “they accept me for who I am.” “He connects better with the horses than I do,” says Pete. “If you leave him out in the paddock with a horse and look over 15 minutes later, they’ll just be having a conversation with each other. It’s so cool to watch.”

So as the season of giving begins, CCS Disability Action thinks it’s worth reflecting on this story of a wonderful couple who gave a young man the gift of a chance. And how that opportunity opened up this young man’s world revealing the gifts he carried within. And how those gifts now benefit his employers, their clients, the horses and himself. That, they suggest, is the real meaning of giving – it’s a circle that benefits everyone – even the giver.

If you’d like to make a donation to CCS Disability Action on Giving Tuesday, simply go to www.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz and press the Giving Tuesday button, or call 0800 227 200.

ENDS

CCS Disability Action Background Information

CCS Disability Action is a community organisation that has been advocating for disabled people to be included in the community since 1935.

CCS Disability Action delivers regular services to over 5,000 people with disabilities, making us one of the largest disability support service providers in New Zealand. We also administer the mobility parking permit scheme which has over 115,000 permit holders.

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