This year we have created some social media tiles that you can use to highlight the challenges you are faced with through living with Coeliac Disease. The theme of ‘My Coeliac Challenge’ allows you to share insight into your daily life with family and friends while building community awareness of this disease.
These can be obtained for your use by contacting admin@coeliac.org.nz.
We have developed a school-based resource kit specifically to support and encourage students to learn about coeliac disease and what gluten-free eating looks like. It also challenges the students to design a gluten–free menu for a potential ‘sleepover’.
We have now exceeded our hard copies of these resource kits – but you can contact healthpromotion@coeliac.org.nz for an electronic version.
Community Events
We also have some exciting opportunities to catch up with our Health Promotion Manager, Lisa Jury this Coeliac Awareness Week if you are around the lower North Island.
On Sunday, 11 June, Lisa will be alongside the team at Bin Inn Papamoa to walk you through the buddy shopper programme – learn how to read labels and shop for gluten-free products. Register at: healthpromotion@coeliac.org.nz
Rise and shine early on the 17th of June, for a breakfast catch-up with Lisa and the team at Gluten Free 4 U, Petone, Lower Hutt. Lisa and Emma (the new Wellington Kids Club Volunteer) will be there from 7 am to chat over coffee and meet with local volunteers and members.
Following this, you can come along to another buddy shopper session at Bin Inn, Masterton on Saturday, 17 June from 10-12 pm. Register at: healthpromotion@coeliac.org.nz
If you are in Palmerston North, come and have a bite to eat with the team at the Dining Out Programme accredited café, Munch, on Saturday 17 June from 2 pm. Lisa and our volunteer Pip Meads will be there to answer any questions you may have about Coeliac NZ. This is a fabulous opportunity to meet with Lisa and other members of Coeliac NZ whilst supporting our local businesses. RSVP to Palmerstonnorth@coeliac.org.nz
Further down in the South Island, Wanaka Coeliac Kids Club is running a gluten-free pasta-making session on Saturday 17th June. For more information on this, contact our volunteer coordinator, Zoe Huggett wanakakids@coeliac.org.nz
Or why not join the local coeliac chat group at the Invercargill Library at 11 am on Friday 16th June, designed as an informal way for parents to share their experiences and gain support from other families with coeliac children. For more information on this, contact our volunteer coordinator, Wendy Shaw hutchshaw@yahoo.co.nz
So this Coeliac Awareness Week, we encourage you to get involved, share the social tiles, meet up with others, and bring awareness to coeliac disease.
Thank you to this year's sponsors FreshLife, Bakels, Lee Kum Kee, and Bin Inn for providing financial support to enable us to deliver the week's activities, and to GoodePR who have partnered with us over the past 5 years to enhance the media outcome year on year.