Tears at turnaround for CCS Disability Action

ACCESS TO AID: CCS Disability Service manager Katie Mackey (right) and disabilities advocate Karen Tait check out the product at the mobility store run by CCS Disability Action. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

There were songs and tears this week as The Mobility Centre moved into a new home on Kahutia Street and a partnership with two other organisations.

CCS Disability Action general manager Colene Herbert for the Midlands Region was unable to hold back tears at the official blessing of the new premises.

Two years ago the agency lost the contract for home and community support services for the elderly when it was awarded to out-of-town business Healthcare NZ, bringing to an end 20 years of work and resulting in a number of redundancies.

“This is an auspicious occasion. Only two years ago the business was gutted,” said Ms Herbert.

“Rather than lie down and take it, we set about looking for opportunities.”

The organisation was delighted to be working with both Life Unlimited and the Maori Women's Welfare League.

“We are so grateful and look forward to having a wonderful relationship.”

CCS Disability Action now operates the Life Unlimited Mobility Centre, offering an extensive range of mobility products from small daily living aids through to walking frames and wheelchairs. Mobility scooters and maintenance can be sourced from the Disraeli St site.

CCS Disability Action service manager Katie Mackey said the day was a dual celebration, with CCS welcoming the Maori Women's Welfare League into the building.

“We are excited to have the Maori Women's Welfare League working alongside us, as a lot of their mahi aligns with what we do in the community.

“Life Unlimited were the original holders of the mobility centre. They ended their service at the end of September and we took over.

“The shop is open five days a week and we have a lot of people coming in to do mobility parking permits. They will pop into the store and have a look around. Members of the public now know we are open five days a week rather than just two.

“We joined forces with Life Unlimited. We run it from here and send orders down to our Hastings store. I visit my Napier CCS Disability Action team regularly so I pick up orders from Hastings and bring them back to Gisborne. It's working really well. There is always a need for aids and we found it really interesting at the number of different aids people are looking at.

“Word of mouth is getting out quite quickly. All the doctors and pharmacies are aware that the centre has moved to our premises and we are now close by.”

The Life Unlimited needs assessment service co-ordination (NASC) team are still based in Disraeli Street but the shop has moved into the CCS building in Kahutia St.