September 2026

We were thrilled with the feedback we got after the emergency preparedness session we held for the Bupa Retirement Village. We left them with a challenge to get important things together in case they needed to leave the house early......

"We would like to sincerely thank Eileen Hawkins from Neighbourhood Support Cambridge for taking the time to visit our residents and provide such an informative and engaging session. Our residents really enjoyed learning practical ways to be better prepared for emergencies, and the fun, interactive activities helped draw everyone in and keep them engaged. We truly appreciate the valuable information, support and knowledge Eileen shared with our community.

After the session, Eileen challenged our residents to prepare their own “Grab N Go” emergency bag, and we had several residents come to show me what they had packed. It was really interesting to see the different items people felt they would need in an emergency, and the residents loved the challenge! It was a great way to put what they had learned into practice and get everyone thinking about being prepared."

To make things even more fun, we offered a small prize draw for the first residents who completed their Grab Bags — and congratulations go to Joan, Linda and Pam, who were quick off the mark and proudly brought in their bags to show us. Hopefully their enthusiasm will inspire others to get started too.

A Grab Bag is one of the simplest ways to be ready for an emergency. It’s a small, portable kit you can grab at a moment’s notice, filled with essentials that help you stay safe, comfortable, and connected if you need to leave home quickly. Most people include basics like water, snacks, medications, a torch, copies of important documents, warm clothing, and a phone charger. For a clear, practical checklist, the New Zealand civil defence website Get Ready outlines exactly what to pack and why it matters. Taking ten minutes now to assemble a Grab Bag means you’ll have what you need when it counts.