ASCO: A Foundation
Supporting People towards their Future

ASCO Member Activity Groups

Activity Groups provide our Members with realistic and sustainable work experience. These activities increase self-esteem, skills levels, work experience, and well-being, and enable a number of trainees to achieve a state of employment readiness.

Below is a brief outline of the Activities currently offered by ASCO:

Arts and Crafts

Arts and Crafts allows for Members to express creative independence within a safe, non-judgemental and positive environment. The Arts and Crafts Group offer a new focus each month and has included activities such as jewellery making, recycling paper, making cards, etc.

Building 101

Enabling Members to build practical items for around the house such as garden furniture.

Depression and Anxiety Support Group

The Depression and Anxiety Support Group offers Members insight and practical tools for coping with issues regarding Depression and Anxiety. The Group are studying the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach.

Educational Workshops

ASCO offers opportunities for access to educational workshops with themes such as Regular exercise, Healthy eating, Affordable quality accommodation, Budgeting and financial management, Employment, Volunteering options, Access to health care and justice, and Access to social and recreational opportunities.

Epilepsy Support Group

The Epilepsy Support Group is a new Group that is underway that runs in conjunction with Epilepsy NZ, Otago Branch. The aim of the Group is to enable Members to Support each other and to embrace methods of mitigation allowing Members to be more confident within social settings.

Home Gardening Group

This Group started with Pot-Painting allowing participants to be creative. The next stage is for Members to grow herbs and decorative plants from seeds. This allows Members to experience a sense of achievement as well as benefiting from their new knowledge of herbs and their various nutritional qualities and usage.

Horticulture Group

The Horticulture Group is long established and offers Members the opportunity to learn how to compost, prepare soil, grow and tend vegetables as well as installing in Members a sense of commitment and work ethic.

Food Handling and Safety

Food Handling and Safety offers Members the opportunity to develop basic culinary skills such as food preparation as well as the gratification of cooking for others, while at the same time hygienic and safe practices are implemented.

Literacy Support

Members of various ages have had lifelong difficulty with reading; unfortunately this can be a barrier with issues such as confidence and employment opportunities. ASCO offer Members a chance to learn to read through a structured programme.

Music Appreciation

Music Appreciation is a social event. Respect for another's choice is a primary focus.

Photography Group

The Photography Group is orchestrated by Members. The Members involved have the opportunity to work as a team in a creative environment.

Project Activity Group

The Project Activity Group focuses on work ethic, and establishes a routine with Members. Activities include lawn mowing, wood cutting, etc.

Walking Group

The Walking Group's primary focus is on health and wellbeing; it also offers Members insight into locations that they can access at any time.

Writing Group

The Writing Group is facilitated by Members. The Group is creativity orientated.