Ageing Well is now called Connected Ageing

September 2, 2025
Connected Ageing Facilitator Nikolien Van Wijk at Wesley Rātā Village

Our Ageing Well Network has changed its name to Connected Ageing. We’re making this change to reflect a change in our focus.

We’ll still be running our weekly coffee group at Wesley Rātā Village and working alongside vulnerable older people in the Hutt Valley area to tackle isolation and help them connect with others.

But we will no longer be running our 10-week Ageing Well courses. Instead, we’ll be working one-to-one with older people who are feeling a bit isolated to help them re-find their sense of social self and weave connections in the community. That could be joining a group, taking up a new activity – or coming along to the coffee group on Monday afternoons.

How will it work?

Our Connected Ageing facilitator, Nikolien Van Wijk, is available to meet people for a chat to get to know them and find out what kinds of things they enjoy doing – and what sort of people they enjoy spending time with.

After she’s got to know them she’ll help them come up with some possible places and groups that interest them – and support them to get involved.

Why are we changing our focus?

A review of the Ageing Well Network last year helped us realise that our most meaningful impact often comes about by supporting connections through:

  • Identifying people’s unique gifts or passions and helping them to remember them.
  • Activating people into action they take themselves, rather than providing a service (such as the formal Ageing Well course).
  • Getting people in a room together with a cuppa and kai.

The goal of Connecting in Ageing is to facilitate these kinds of connections in both one-to-one and group settings.

Come along to our weekly coffee group at Wesley Rātā Village

We’re still running our weekly coffee group at Wesley Rātā Village in Naenae. It’s a great chance for people to get together and meet kānohi ki te kānohi.

The group currently meets from 1pm to 3pm on Monday afternoon at Wesley Rātā Village, 249 Rātā Street Naenae.

Who is Connected Ageing for?

Connnected Ageing is for:

  • People in the Hutt Valley aged 60+ who are losing their sense of social connection.
  • Anyone of any age who wants to support and socialise with older people.

Find out more

To find out more contact:

Nikolien Van Wijk
Connected Ageing Facilitator, Wesley Community Action
M: 027 432 2393
E: nvanwijk@wesleyca.org.nz