Living Life Their Way - Ella, Lizzie & Cyclone

Hanging out in the kitchen, cooking meals for friends and laughing about life – it’s a typical scene from any 20-somethings share home around the country.

But for this Bay of Plenty house, there is something much more special to be found here. In fact, its many things including freedom, independence, confidence, and empowerment – for Ella, Lizzie, Cyclone and Aimee all have disabilities, and their home comes complete with 24/7 residential support, provided by ConneXu.

Ella, who has partnered with ConneXu since March 2021, says she loves living with her flatmates and community facilitators – and has grown with confidence in cooking, making meals for her friends, and being able to make her own decisions in life.

“I love to cook pasta, anything Italian. Before this I lived at home with my mum but now I can be here with flatmates and ConneXu helped me with that,” she says.

“Moving in I was very nervous but once I met (community facilitator) Tamara, that helped me a lot.”

Currently Ella is working to complete the Toi Ohomoi Skills for Living course. Goals and ambitions are more than just dreams in this house, with each of the women set up with a plan for their life and helping them to achieve whatever they set their mind to.

“My next big goal is to be on Shortland Street,” Ella says.

Meanwhile Lizzie’s goal has a sharper focus on health.

“I want to lose weight and to feel better about myself and feel more confident,” Lizzie says.

Lizzie’s confidence has been increasing with her undertaking new paid employment with ConneXu as a casual safety assistant, distributing PPE gear to the ConneXu houses in the Bay of Plenty. This role is her first paid role.

“Working with ConneXu has given me the opportunity to live out of home and flat, to meet new people and gain independence. My mum doesn’t tell me what to do anymore, I have more freedom,” she says.

Cyclone, who has partnered with ConneXu since 2021 says living with flatmates who have become friends is better for her as she has her own room plus has built confidence in cooking and household duties.

“My bedroom is my own space, and I can make it however I want.”

Cyclone is also a recent graduate of the Toi Ohomoi level 1 Skills for Living Course, completed with the support of ConneXu.

“I have also recently improved my swimming and have been catching the bus too. My next big goal is to be on a basketball team!”

Aimee’s goal is a practical yet life-changing one of gaining her driver’s licence so she can continue to grow her level of independence, and help her to get to the Toi Ohomoi campus for her Level 1 Living Skill course, as well as continue to enable her to volunteer within her community. In the past, Aimee has volunteered with Riding for the Disabled and an op shop.

Aimee’s favourite space at home is the garden, as she loves the peace and quiet it provides.

“I have my own space here. I like the community facilitators because they are always here to help me when I need support,” Aimee says.

Independence, learning new skills, and enjoying life with friends – living life on their terms and empowered by making their own decisions, supported by ConneXu at each step – it is the ConneXu way, says community facilitator Sally Watt.

“They have already achieved so much and have set their own goals. They learn so much by living together in a supported environment and have a lot of fun,” Sally says.