Stroke Foundation and Stroke Central Amalgamation
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The members of Stroke Central New Zealand have voted to amalgamate with the Stroke Foundation of New Zealand, to further their collective mission to prevent stroke, improve outcomes, and save lives.
The Stroke Foundation’s services ensure the best possible outcomes for thousands of clients every year. It provides life-saving health promotion and stroke prevention information to lower the risk of stroke in communities across Aotearoa.
Given the resources, support, and expertise the Stroke Foundation can offer, Stroke Central will benefit from additional stroke prevention and health promotion services across the region.
We welcome the opportunity to invest in the community and continue Stroke Central’s important legacy of supporting stroke survivors and their whānau.
What will change?
You may not notice many changes straight away, though behind the scenes there will be immediate improvements to technology and back-office support systems for the Stroke Central team. All of these are designed to help us do more for more people by working smarter not harder, and the Stroke Central team will be receiving comprehensive training in June, in readiness for the transition to SFNZ.
Our goal will always be to provide the same high standard of support that the Central region has enjoyed for many years, alongside new health promotion, stroke prevention and life after stroke services, (including free blood pressure checks, educational resources, and online and in-person support for stroke survivors and their whānau).
Why are you making this change?
Stroke is New Zealand’s leading cause of adult disability. With one stroke occurring every 55 minutes, there are currently 64,000 people living with the after effects of their stroke, and a further 300,000 indirectly impacted. Research conducted in 2015 predicted that by 2028, this figure would rise by 40 per cent, and we are on target to exceed this.
Māori and Pasifika are disproportionately affected by stroke due to the social determinants of health, health inequity and system access – particularly in rural areas that are covered by the central region. On average, strokes occur 10 – 15 years earlier among Māori and Pasifika people, with poorer outcomes and a higher risk of having a secondary stroke.
That’s why it’s so important that we come together to achieve our common purpose, to prevent strokes, improve outcomes and save lives. By uniting our organisations, we will have a stronger national voice to advocate for the stroke affected community of New Zealand, while ensuring consistent, evidence-based, quality services are delivered no matter where someone lives.
What is the Stroke Foundation?
The Stroke Foundation is New Zealand’s national stroke prevention and recovery charity. For more than 40 years, we have worked to prevent stroke and help survivors access the support they need to live their best possible life after their stroke.
What services do you offer?
Our services include:
● Community Stroke Advisors who support stroke survivors and their whānau in communities across the country.
● Return-to-Work Advisors who help clients return to work after their stroke, working with employers and individuals to develop a practical plan.
● Health promotion initiatives including stroke prevention campaigns, and specific trade-based initiatives targeted at high-risk groups.
● Stroke prevention and ‘life after stroke’ resources, including information to help young people, whānau, and carers navigate the challenges of looking after a loved one after a stroke.
The generosity of our donors makes it possible for us to help thousands of stroke survivors every year. Our teams work in the community to ensure the best possible outcomes for stroke survivors, their whānau and carers. To find out more about the Stroke Foundation, go to www.stroke.org.nz
How will this affect communities in the region?
We will continue to provide the same high standard of service to clients across the central region, alongside new health promotion and stroke prevention services, including free blood pressure checks, educational resources, and online and in-person support for stroke survivors and their whānau.
Will you make any changes to staffing?
No. All team members will remain on staff. The Paraparaumu office will close, but this will not impact services. The team will be supported through the national office, based in Wellington.
How will this impact Stroke Central’s clients?
There will be a seamless transition of services, and clients should notice few changes. Resources unique to the Stroke Foundation, including information for young people, whānau, and carers will be made available to clients immediately.
How will this impact Stroke Central’s members and volunteers?
We really value the energy and enthusiasm Stroke Central’s members and volunteers have put into supporting the charity’s mahi over the years. While the Stroke Foundation’s constitution requires us to move away from the old model of voting rights for members, we are excited to find new ways of working with our supporter family – and affiliated stroke clubs – to help stroke survivors and their whānau across the lower North Island.
How will this change affect financial members?
We are currently exploring several options that will allow Stroke Central’s financial members to continue to support our mahi. We will be in touch with more information as soon as it becomes available.
How will this change impact stroke clubs?
In the same way that SFNZ has always supported Stroke Clubs across the country, we will continue to do so in the Central region. There are a range of options available to support the ongoing viability of these important community support networks, from very light touch to direct affiliation. We look forward to engaging with Central region's membership to work through the option that is preferred for clubs in each location.
Will I notice any changes?
Over the next year, we will migrate Stroke Central’s online resources to the Stroke Foundation website to create a one-stop-shop for all matters related to stroke prevention and recovery www.stroke.org.nz
I donate money to Stroke Central. Will it still be used for the region?
Yes. Donations and grants received for the region will benefit the region, and we will continue to apply for funding from government, philanthropy, and other sources to support clients across the lower North Island. In addition, SFNZ's Fundraising team will be implementing a fundraising programme to increase financial support through grants, trusts, philanthropy, sponsorships and individual giving.