Dear Friends,

People often say hindsight is 20/20. And this year 2020, it is felt even more acutely so when all attempts at foresight and plans have all gone awry. As we pause and look back on the three quarters that has passed, many of our decisions have had to be swift, responsive, and most of the time it has forced us to step out of our comfort zone.

One thing is for sure, it would be reckless to expect that we can go back to business as usual.  We’ve had to rethink, relook, and reimagine many of our processes - from competition delivery, training and outreach, our operations and even the way we communicate. It has not been easy for most industries but the charities sector has been hit exceptionally hard with rising urgent demands, yet resources are scarce and outreach has been limited.

We’re a disability-sports organisation that prides ourselves for bringing constant inclusion opportunities for our athletes and the community. In 2019 alone we held 39,493 competitions which translates to 55 a day across our region. This necessary imposed isolation is in conflict with, and detrimental to inclusion. We need to reinvent ourselves to ensure the best outcome for those we serve.

We had our regional strategic plan training webinars in July and many of us are planning or have planned for our next cycle. I’m glad to announce that we will be having our first-ever Virtual Regional Leadership Conference on 17^th October. This 4-hour session will be an opportunity for mutual learning and we hope it will be a productive platform for ideas to take root and a chance for us as a region to shape the future of inclusion collectively.

What may that future for the movement be like?
How do we reach that outcome?
Are we ready for it?

The truth is, we will never be ready, but we can always be prepared to mitigate our risks and manage our vulnerabilities. Most importantly, we will need to increase our capacity and capability to cope with what’s ahead. With the same resilience and strength manifested in our athletes, let us be brave in our attempt.

May we continue to change the game and we hope you enjoy the read.

Yours Sincerely,

In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week SO New Zealand launched a weeklong campaign to inviting everyone to embrace their taha whānau by taking on wholesome activities together like cooking a meal together, going for a walk or playing sports.