Camp to be transformed into ``Children's Village"

MEDIA RELEASE

18 August 2009

Princess of Wales Camp to be transformed into ``Children’s Village’’

A major redevelopment and refurbishment is about to begin at the Princess of Wales Children’s Health Camp in Rotorua.

Te Puna Whaiora Children’s Health Camps is remodelling the Princess of Wales camp to create a child-friendly environment, which will be known as a ‘children’s village’. This will see the existing residential facilities closed from this Friday until the redeveloped camp opens for the second term of 2010.

Te Puna Whaiora Chief Executive Dr Fiona Inkpen says the redeveloped Princess of Wales Children’s Health Camp will deliver even greater outcomes for children and their families.

``This is a very exciting initiative for us and for the families we work with,’’ Dr Inkpen says.

Increasingly research into social interventions, and Te Puna Whaiora’s own experience, suggests that organisations are more likely to receive positive outcomes for children and families when they are working in a familiar, home-like environment.

Dr Inkpen says the existing facilities have done a fantastic job for the 10,000 children and families who have stayed at the Princess of Wales camp over the past 25 years.

``However, it was increasingly apparent that they would not be able to continue to meet our needs and expectations as a modern, evidence-based agency.

``We needed to do major work to replace the roof at camp, and this has given us the opportunity to redesign the buildings at the same time, to better meet the needs of children and families,’’ Dr Inkpen says.

``The children’s village environment will allow children to develop routines and participate in a way that can be translated into the home environment at the end of the camp.’’

The project will be carried out by Watts and Hughes Construction.

While the camp is closed, children and families will continue to receive full services in the community. Administration and community services will continue to be based at the Princess of Wales site.

Te Puna Whaiora invites all members of the community to attend a ceremony to mark the temporary closure of the camp’s residential facilities at 10am on Friday, 21 August at the Princess of Wales Children’s Health Camp, Tarawera Road, Rotorua.
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