We recently began on our organisational journey to becoming “green” and asked staff to send us their thoughts and ideas on how to achieve this. We were inundated with many great ideas of things we could do to ensure of organisation becomes as eco-friendly as possible.

One idea from a staff member was to introduce the utilisation of eco shopping bags within all of our residential services. After a quick calculation we realised we need a few more bags than initially anticipated…268 to be exact.

Our Fundraising Manager contacted Foodstuffs and they were only too happy to assist us with our venture. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Foodstuffs for the very generous donation of…300 eco shopping bags for our services.

Theodora Despotaki
Projects Officer

Kaumatua Piniaha Murray blessed the facility and Operations Manager Louis Chetty gave the opening address.   CEO Clive Plucknett made an inspiring speech that commended the DHB for their innovative and collaborative approach.  Dr Murray Patton (Clinical Director, WDHB) also spoke of the spirit of partnership between Challenge Trust and WDHB that was guiding the development and implementation of the new service.

The purpose of the service is to provide home-like accommodation that can be accessed as a planned event to avoid exacerbating the risk of needing admission to an inpatient mental health service or alcohol and other drugs service, for youth under the care of WDHB clinical teams.

The service will be provided in a beautifully appointed new home in Greenhithe, where up to four young people can accommodated overnight and a further two youth can be supported during the day.  Care has been taken to ensure that the environment is youth-friendly and a range of activities are available on site for the enjoyment of clients and their families, including table tennis, billiards, Wii, X-Box, basketball, computer and internet.  A daily schedule will be in operation and will include physical activities, art, drama, living skills, psycho-education, relaxation, stress management, coping skills etc.

The Youth Respite Service is robustly supported by the Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) team and the WDHB Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Marinoto).  Referrals and access are managed via the EPI team.

Challenge Trust would like to thank Waitemata DHB, staff, clients, families and all other interested stakeholders for the hard work, contributions and support they provided in getting this service up and running.

Fiona Ironside

The service provides:

• residential crisis and planned respite support,
• a day programme service
• community support services
• individualised packages of care services
• residential pre and post alcohol and other drug services

This service maintains strong linkages working alongside families/Whanau to ensure positive outcomes are achieved for all of its’ clients.  Likewise, Challenge Trust has developed and will continue to maintain a collaborative relationship with its Lakes DHB clinical partner and all other key stakeholders to ensure that the best client outcomes are achieved.

The service is run by a team of dedicated staff who bring a variety of experience and skills to their positions.  All new staff have been through an intensive training programme as well as being engaged in an ongoing mentoring programme to ensure their skills remain relevant and aligned to international models of best practice. 

Challenge Trust would like to thank Lakes DHB, staff, clients, families and all other interested stakeholders for the hard work, contributions and support they provided in order for the idea of this much anticipated service to be realised. 

Kate Stewart

Operations Manager, Midlands

CHALLENGE TRUST

My name is David Lomman and I have a passion for bringing good health information to adults and children everywhere.           

For the last 15 years I have been working with the analysis system RBTI Analysis which gives much insight into the condition of the body and how that can affect the mind and emotions.

Your Company, Challenge Trust has invited me to place some articles in your newsletter about some of the things that I have learned. I hope that you will find them interesting and beneficial.

The first article is on Water and How Important it is to have Correct Hydration.

When I first started getting interested in this science of body analysis I was just like everyone else. I had heard a lot about water but didn’t realise how important it really is. I knew I was supposed to drink 8-10 glasses a day because that information is everywhere. I just didn’t know how critical it was that I drink according to my body weight. Some days I would get so involved in other things that I might only have 2 glasses of water and make up the rest in other fluids thinking that would be enough.          

Imagine my surprise when my first RBTI Analysis showed that I was chronically dehydrated and it was affecting the thickness of my blood, my ability to think clearly, the pressure on my heart and digestive system as well as all other organs in my body.

I just didn’t know how important it was to drink the right amount of water. So I had high carbohydrates showing and that was leading to variable energy, high salts putting extra pressure on my heart and vascular system, high protein wastes showing that my digestive system wasn’t working properly and imbalanced pH’s showing that I wasn’t able to absorb nutrients properly.

What a surprise that was. So since that time I have made sure to keep up my water intake to the correct amount for my body. My body weighs 82 kg so for me as for every one else I need 33 ml of water for each kilogram of weight or 2.7 litres of water every day.

The funny thing is that when Carey Reams (The creator of RBTI Analysis) worked all of this out over 50 years ago he found that nearly everyone felt better and performed better when they had the right amount of water in their body.

Do you know how much water to drink?    And just as importantly when to drink it?

If you want you or your child to have optimum performance at work, home, school, in sports or just generally it will pay to make sure that you and they consistently drink just water at the rate of 33 ml per kg of weight. So if they weigh 40 kg that is 1.3 litres every day. And remember nothing else does what water does. And the best way to drink it is in small frequent amounts taken right through the day. Making sure that it is all gone before bed.

There is so much more that I would love to share with you about water. Sometimes clients come back to me as one did just recently and said that “since I started drinking all of that water my blood pressure has dropped and I don’t get the pressure around my heart any more.”

One of Carey Reams most famous sayings was that if everyone would just drink the right amount of water for their body it would stop most pectoralis heart attacks. What a way to save a life. Just drink more water.

Thanks for your attention and remember the more consistent use and the better quality of the water the better the outcomes for you and your child’s body. 

Till next time. Comments welcome. Lets make this a place where you can voice your opinions, concerns and even health issues and I will do my best to explain how RBTI Analysis can help you or any members of your family.

Best Wishes                                                                               

David Lomman,                                                       

Naturopath, Hypnotherapist

Teacher of RBTI Analysis.

Well that is the basis for RBTI Analysis. Recently taught to team leaders and members it gives some profound information about the causes of most health issues.

First formulated in 1931 by Carey Reams an agricultural scientist in the USA it has been instrumental in helping many thousands of people. It is amazing what can be seen and understood from a sample of urine and saliva when someone is trained to understand.

In its quest to deliver the very best care and assistance to its team members and those entrusted to its care Challenge Trust now have the ability to do this testing in house. Some team members and families have already been tested and have received their results.

Changes have already been noticed with increases in energy, lessening of anxieties, reduction of pain, lessening of depression, and lessening of symptoms of allergies and sensitivities amongst other health issues in reports back from staff. All this just from following some simple guidelines and rules that are part of the testing recommendations and follow through.

Challenge is taking on the challenge to be a hub for turning the health conditions that are seemingly at epidemic levels around. With RBTI Analysis it is simple to make health changes. To see your health most often as a consequence of your diet and lifestyle and to know that in most cases what is done can be undone with the right guidance and information.

Rather than wait until someone gets sick and then have to offer intensive and prolonged care Challenge wants to step forward and offer New Zealanders a simple method of preventative analysis and health care.

We are committed to becoming a part of “the fence at the top of the cliff” so that the people of New Zealand will need less “ambulances in the valley.”

More on this exciting analysis system with insight into its principles and why it is so important in the coming weeks.

For those who have already been tested you will have received your individual reports by now which will provide you with education and outline the simple steps that you can take to help you get and maintain better physical and emotional health, ideal weight, and to have a more vibrant and healthier life.

You will no doubt feel a million dollars after making a few life changes so good luck on your journey to recovery.

David Lowman

Dip.Nat, Dip.CH
Co-Founder, Holistic Pathways

Imagine if there was a simple way to know more about your health. A way in which you could be informed about things – natural things that you could do that could halt, delay or even reverse disease processes and help you head in the right direction with your health.

Well that is the basis for RBTI Analysis. Recently taught to team leaders and members it gives some profound information about the causes of most health issues.

First formulated in 1931 by Carey Reams an agricultural scientist in the USA it has been instrumental in helping many thousands of people. It is amazing what can be seen and understood from a sample of urine and saliva when someone is trained to understand.

In its quest to deliver the very best care and assistance to its team members and those entrusted to its care Challenge Trust now have the ability to do this testing in house. Some team members and families have already been tested and have received their results.

Changes have already been noticed with increases in energy, lessening of anxieties, reduction of pain, lessening of depression, and lessening of symptoms of allergies and sensitivities amongst other health issues in reports back from staff. All this just from following some simple guidelines and rules that are part of the testing recommendations and follow through.

Challenge is taking on the challenge to be a hub for turning the health conditions that are seemingly at epidemic levels around. With RBTI Analysis it is simple to make health changes. To see your health most often as a consequence of your diet and lifestyle and to know that in most cases what is done can be undone with the right guidance and information.

Rather than wait until someone gets sick and then have to offer intensive and prolonged care Challenge wants to step forward and offer New Zealanders a simple method of preventative analysis and health care.

We are committed to becoming a part of “the fence at the top of the cliff” so that the people of New Zealand will need less “ambulances in the valley.”

More on this exciting analysis system with insight into its principles and why it is so important in the coming weeks.

For those who have already been tested we are about to start the next phase of education and outline the simple steps that you can take to help you get and maintain better physical and emotional health, ideal weight, and to have a more vibrant and healthier life. 

Challenge Trust Opens

Thrive

New Eating Disorders Service

On the 30^th of September Challenge Trust launched a much-needed new health service – Thrive, an eating disorders service.

Thrive, was officially opened by the Ms Christine Rankin and is the result of an $8 million contract between Challenge Trust and the Auckland District Health Board to provide residential and day programme treatment to 15- to 24-year-olds with eating disorders.

This is the first service of its kind in the upper North Island, and operates from premises in Parnell, Auckland.

Challenge Trust would like to thank the following for the hard work, contributions and support they provided in order for the Thrive dream to be realised:

• Alexander Communications Ltd
• EDANZ
• EDEN
• Healtheries
• The Women’s Bookshop
• Botany Downs Secondary College
• St Peter’s College
• Epsom Girls’ Grammar School

The opening of Thrive has been well documented in the media.  Click on the links below to read more.

http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/challenge-trust-today-opens-thrive/5/65642

http://topnews.us/content/226947-christine-rankin-inaugurates-thrive

http://www.silobreaker.com/christine-rankin-inaugurates-thrive-5_2263759348763197612

The Auckland District Health Board voted on 7 July to sign a three-year contract with a specialist eating services provider.

The provider will deliver Specialist Eating Disorders Residential and Day Programme Services within the Northern and Midland Regions.

This isas a result of increased ministerial funding from the Northern Region Eating Disorders Services Plan 2008 – 2013 to the value of approximately $17 million over three years.

The ADHB has contracted Challenge Trust to establish a day clinic and residential treatment facility by the end of the year.

Clive Plucknett, CEO of Challenge Trust, says, “Eating disorders are insidious conditions that have the potential to destroy the lives of people and their families.  Challenge Trust is proud to partner with ADHB in providing the best possible service and make a real difference in the lives of people these conditions affect.”

The services requested will be inclusive of both clinical and residential components, providing recovery-orientated accommodation and treatment for people aged over 15 years with eating disorders.

Challenge Trust has been successful in its bid for the contract based on the complexity and intensity of the services it can provide. The awarding of contract was announced by the ADHB on 8 July, subject to their approval.

The ADHB and NDSA have ensured that Challenge Trust meets the extensive criteria required to guarantee that people and their families are provided with the appropriate levels of assessment, monitoring, treatment and support.

More specifically, Challenge Trust will supply comprehensive residential care, support, and treatment to facilitate recovery for those who are experiencing significant difficulties due to an eating disorder. Alongside this, Challenge Trust will offer a community-focused day programme for those with similar eating disorders but whose level of need can be managed in the community with an appropriate level of day time treatment and therapeutic support.

About Challenge Trust

Challenge Trust is a charitable trust which commenced operation in 1993 and now has 280 staff providing services to more than 1,500 people out of 24 sites in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty regions.

Challenge Trust’s clients include people affected by mental illness, physical disability, intellectual disability, addictions, dual disability and dual diagnosis. The organization  has contracts with District Health Boards, the Accident Compensation Corporation, MOH, MSD and other government departments, and an increasing number of private clients.

Services provided include 24-hour residential accommodation, community support to people living in their own homes, educational services, employment and life skills training, advocacy, information, employment opportunities, family/whanau support and various housing options.

The Trust is governed by a Board which employs a CEO to lead the organization and head the Executive Management Team.

Challenge Trust has modelled itself as having the rigour and professionalism of a corporate, blended with the innovation and heart of a non-government organization (NGO)

Fact Sheet

• Established as a charitable trust in 1993
• Has 280 staff and more than 1,500 clients at 24 sites in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty
• Staff include nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, a physiotherapist and qualified support workers
• Deals with client groups including:
  • High and complex mental illness
  • Severe physical disability
  • Dual diagnosis
  • Dual disability
  • Older adults
  • Maternal mental health
  • Post-accident victims
    • Specific cultural/ethnic groups, notably Maori, Pacific and Asian and special needs groups
• Clients include District Health Boards, the Accident Compensation Corporation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, other government departments and private citizens who directly engage the recovery services
• Offers a full range of recovery-oriented services, including:
  • Residential support, from low to high needs
  • Community-based support, supporting people in their homes
  • Respite care
  • Information, advocacy and support services
  • Education and training
  • Employment training and job schemes
  • Housing options
  • Community centres
  • Family/whanau service
  • Private mental health services
  • Peer support services
  • Winner of two 2009 Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards in the categories of (1) Employer of Choice and (2) Governance
  • ISO 9001 Accreditation
  • In 2009 expanded through a merger with Northcare Trust, in response to a Government call for consolidation and mergers in the NGO sector

 

Clive Plucknett, Challenge Trust's CEO appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business

Plucknett understands pressure and hard-work as the head of Challenge Trust, an organisation dedicated to recovery services for people from all walks of life.