The thing about old sayings is that some are true, and some aren’t, Manurewa Local Board chair Glenn Murphy warns.
“We’re told ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, which is rubbish, but that ‘you’re never too old to learn’, which is true.
“That’s why the board is again offering grants to community members aged 55 and up to use to continue to learn new skills.
“Our Lifelong Learning Fund is much like our Rangatahi Youth Scholarship fund, except that it operates at the other end of the age range.
“Just as we want to back our young people, we believe older residents are more than capable of getting out there and learning new skills, whether it be computer or language classes, cultural practices such as weaving, learning new exercise methods, or taking up a new hobby.
“It’s important our older people stay engaged, and getting out there and taking on something new is a way of remaining active, meeting new people, and continuing our life journeys.”
The Lifelong Learning Fund offers grants of up to $2000 to anyone aged 55 or over who lives in the board area and wants to continue to learn in 2024.
Funding can be used to participate in a local study programme, course, training, or wānanga. New Zealand conferences and events can also be considered.
“Learning isn’t restricted to the young. Anyone is capable of it, and we’ve had people tell us whole new experiences have been opened up to them,” Murphy says.
He says the board remains committed to helping shape an age-friendly city and the Lifelong Learning Fund supports older people being able to participate in activities they enjoy.
In recent years hundreds of residents have received grants used in areas as diverse as computers and information technology, religious studies, conversational te reo, korowai-making and pastoral counselling.
You can get a form from the Manurewa or Clendon libraries, or at Nathan Homestead, and return it via email to ayr.jones@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or by dropping it at the libraries or the homestead.
Applications close on 20 October.
Stay connected
Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for our Manurewa Local Board E-news and get it delivered to your inbox each month.
