Connect 14
- The Champion Centre
- Nov 3, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 29, 2025
DIRECTORS' KŌRERO
As the year rolls on The Champion Centre is as busy as ever with purposeful activity, new learning, play and connection.
We know how important it is for parents and whānau to have opportunities to connect with one another. For families with children with developmental challenges it can be particularly hard to find a safe environment to meet others who understand their journey. While our core business is delivering early intervention, this term we've introduced our new ‘coffee and chat’ sessions in the afternoon. You can read more about these in this edition of Connect.
We’re also excited to share some of our ‘centre happenings’ and are grateful to Bronwen, Jaxon’s Mum, for sharing her story. It’s an interesting read. And finally, we absolutely want to shout from the rooftops our gratitude to the Brooksfield team for their ongoing refurbishment of our somewhat tired environment.
Without the ongoing generosity of all of our supporters, big and small, we couldn’t do what we do. Happy reading!
Wendy and Lauren
Centre Happenings
New Coffee & Chat sessions at the Centre
Our new ‘Coffee & Chat’ sessions are being held monthly to provide parents and caregivers an opportunity to connect. It’s a great chance to meet others who attend on a different day. Purely social, this is ‘time out’ in a safe environment. Our wonderful staff, Marguerite and Emma are on hand, making sure the coffee is flowing and that there are always plenty of toys for the children to play with. The next 'Coffee & Chat' will be in either week 8 or 9. Keep an eye out for more details.
Musical Magic
We couldn’t resist sharing this beautiful photo of Rachael, our Music Therapist and Bruno engaged in a musical moment together playing the xylophone and guitar.
Sign Language takes off via Zoom!
This year in a new initiative, we have been running Zoom Sign Language classes for families
wanting to sign with their children. Previously we have offered in-person courses but as covid loomed it seemed a good idea to try out zoom. These worked well and families have enjoyed not having to leave their homes to attend. Liz, our talented Sign Language Coordinator has so far reached more than 20 people. Mums, dads, brothers and sisters have all joined in. We will continue to offer beginner courses each term and are planning some further courses for those who want to continue on. Sign Language can be a great way to support a child’s learning and development, particularly in the area of communication.
Bronwen’s Story
Bronwen’s pregnancy went full term, there were no issues, and the home birth went smoothly. By midday the following day, the mood had dramatically changed. At his 12-hour check baby Jaxon was diagnosed with a Grade 4 brain bleed and his breathing was deteriorating. Living an hour out of town made the trip to NICU a concern for the family.
The relaxed start to life had turned rocky, and surgery was imminent when Jaxon was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. With hospital visits 3 times a week, even for a seasoned community care nurse like Bronwen, life became very surreal. Jaxon started having seizures at 6 months old, he was trialled on a considerable number of medications, and Bronwen and the family were finding it tough. A lobectomy was performed but Bronwen found the lack of positivity and hope, when it came to disability, was debilitating.
Bronwen and Jaxon’s initial exposure to the Champion Centre began in the Baby Programme when Jaxon was 3 months old, and from that moment on, she was showered with genuine hope and delight at all that Jaxon could do. Bronwen states “It was all about celebrating our successes, and the peer support group was as important to me, as therapy was to Jaxon. It was so special to see the kids together and talk to the mums and dads experiencing what I was experiencing”.
The family headed to Auckland for further surgery late 2021 and Bronwen is relieved Jaxon has been ‘seizure free’ for 40 weeks. She adds she was also delighted with the Centre physio, Deborah’s, visit to the ward while Jaxon was recovering. “She was in Auckland on holiday, visiting her daughter and she took time out to check in on us, I was so grateful for that” exclaims Bronwen.
We always want to ensure we meet all our families needs, and Bronwen assures us “Yes, the Champion Centre is amazing, there has never been any judgement, we know you are on our side, it feels like a partnership filled with empowerment and empathy. And the advocacy is just what we need when it all feels a bit much”. She also adds, “Even as a nurse I didn’t know about the Centre, but I do know we wouldn’t be where we are without it”.
Bronwen then goes on to talk about the centre-based approach, after many experiences navigating multiple professionals and providers appointments. “I love that the Centre staff are not telling me different things, it’s obvious that they meet and collaborate and there’s a comforting level of transparency”.
And what does Jaxon love about the Champion Centre? “He enjoys having fun, the physiotherapy, movement has been excellent for us, and we are grateful to have the option of hydrotherapy. Jaxon just loves the music, during lockdown we had access to the remote music sessions as part of our routine, and my 8-year-old daughter always joined in”
“We are optimistic for Jaxon’s future. He has just started talking which is a miracle!”
I love reading the ‘Graduate Stories’ about former Centre children living their best lives”, shares Bronwen.
And finally, she notes, “I don’t even know how we would have got through without the team. The Champion Centre team are an extension of my family and are my support network. They offer me hope, and if you don’t have hope, you don’t have anything”
A big thanks to Bronwen for sharing her time at the Champion Centre with us.
Brooksfield champion our cause
For those of you who know the Champion Centre well, or have just paid a visit, you’ll know that our décor and parts of our environment are more than a little ‘tired’. We therefore couldn’t believe our good fortune when a friend from the Champion Foundation Trust introduced the team from Brooksfield. They had been told that our rooms were in need of a little TLC and were keen to help out.
Oliver Hickman and Vincent Holloway are the Directors of Brooksfield, a high quality Christchurch townhouse company. From the moment they walked through our doors it was evident they ‘got’ us, understanding the importance of our work and wanting to help. Their energy was refreshing, and they were keen to truly understand what would make a difference to us and our environment.
Together we developed a plan to renovate and refresh our programme and play rooms.
Phase 1 is now complete and we have new cabinetry and sinks in one play room and programme space, with fresh paint, wall coverings, flooring, ceiling tiles, and picture boards. We also have beautiful new curtains and blinds. Check out some of the awesome cabinetry and paint work below.
Phase 2 will see the amazing work continue with a make-over of our Baby Room and additional play room and programme space.
Olly and Vinny, with the help of their Project Manager Hamish have coordinated with their contractors and partners to help deliver this project. It’s been an act of huge generosity by a company keen to ‘give back’ to the community.
Every person involved in the project has been amazing, listening, paying attention to detail, and working to deadlines during the holidays to ensure the work is finished by the time children returned for the start of the term.
On behalf of children, families and staff, thank-you Brooksfield!
Rose’s Givealittle campaign a big success!
Congratulations and thank-you to Rose Edgar who did ‘Dry July’ and ran a Give-a-little campaign which raised $3750 for the Champion Centre.
Rose’s nephew has just started at the Champion Centre and she was keen to help out. Way to go Rose!
New Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator on board
Farewell to Karon Storr
We were sad to farewell Karon from her role as Funding Coordinator in April. Karon worked tirelessly to raise ‘the difference’ to help our programmes thrive. Thank-you to Karon, and all the best for her new endeavours.
Welcome to Tracey Horsham
Tracey joined the Champion Centre in July as our Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator. With experience with the Royal British Legion we were delighted to have Tracey join our team.
If you have any fundraising ideas, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Tracey on funding@championcentre.org.nz
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