The Big Sibling Project

We are hoping to get back into business mid Jan! It’s been a hectic few months for us but we can’t wait to get back to helping families and hopefully have some staff on board that can help us to do more! Watch this space!

The fabulous Zoe on her last ever day of school today! Thank you for guiding me to a job I love doing, I hope life will do the same for you ❤️❤️

A VERY happy 18th birthday to one of the most fantastic and contagiously happy person I’ve ever met!
Always so excited to hang out with my great friend Ella, and I always come home in a positive mood after our girls days out.
Thank you for being such a gift to the world and bringing happiness to everyone you meet!
You are so one in a million and the world is a better place with you in it!
Enjoy adulthood and all the wonderful things that are to come ❤️

Some very exciting stuff for The Big Sibling Project! Picked up our first prototype of our new hoodies yesterday! Modelled by my beautiful friend Ella!

We will also be doing T-shirts, winter fleeces, wooly hats and jumpers without hoods 😊 if you’d like to buy some Merch, give us a message with the product and colours you would like and we will get you a quote! 😊

Remember all profits go towards our newest project of providing a safe and fun experience for adults with special needs to enjoy a night out with volunteer support workers 😊

EXCITING NEWS!

As of next week we will be selling hoodies!
We can have varying colours and can be personalised 😊

They’re $70 and the $5 profit will go towards a new project of mine where I’m trying to create a group of volunteer support workers to accompany adults with special needs on nights out!

As someone who used to manage bars, I have a bit of insight on this area and it used to bother me that there wasn’t a lot of ways for people to even try it! I’ve realised a lot of adults feel really anxious going out, which is very fair, but I’ve also heard them say they feel as though they are missing out just because of their disability, and that it’s something they would love to do. I would love to provide a safe and fun experience as they have every much of a right to enjoy the music and vibe of a safe night out as anyone else.

I am also working on a way to introduce people to the security and bar managers so that they always feel there is someone around them to help them out if it becomes overwhelming.

The money will go towards earplugs if the music is too loud, petrol for ensuring everyone gets home safely, insurance and any extra expenses, but this will be a non-profit project.

I will also be trying to provide some free training to bar staff on how to recognise if someone might have a hidden disability and when it’s especially important to have extra patience and keep an extra eye out. If anyone has any suggestions on things you would like staff to know, I would love to hear it!

Updated version of next weeks schedule 😊

Monday 17th- fully booked
Tuesday 18th- fully booked
Wednesday 19th- available
Thursday 20th- available until 5pm
Friday 21st- fully booked
Saturday 22nd- fully booked
Sunday 23rd- fully booked

We are officially fully booked for all slots this week!
We have been absolutely overwhelmed with messages for work which is amazing but unfortunately have no more availability for new families on a weekly basis!
We may be able to do casual work if it fits in with the weeks schedule which is posted weekly 😊
We are on the lookout for a new superstar to join the team but we are being extra careful in picking the right candidate and will have to do police checks, etc, so may take a while!

For now here is next weeks schedule if you are an existing family and would like to book an extra few hours!

Monday 17th- fully booked
Tuesday 18th- fully booked
Wednesday 19th- available
Thursday 20th- available until 5pm
Friday 21st- available
Saturday 22nd- available
Sunday 23rd- fully booked

I’m away on the 24th till the 1st of June to recharge and think of some creative ways to better the business 😊

Next weeks availability!
Mon 10th- fully booked
Tuesday 11th- fully booked
Wednesday 12th- fully booked
Thursday 13th- fully booked
Friday 14th- available until 7pm
Saturday 15th- morning booking to be confirmed, afternoon/ evening available
Sunday 16th- available after 3.30pm

We have been crazy busy the last couple of weeks with the school holidays, so apologies to any families I couldn’t get back to! I’m going to start posting my weekly availability here so if you need help on any of those days you can give me a message!

Monday and Tuesday’s are fully booked for the foreseeable future
Wednesday 28th: available all day
Thursday 29th: fully booked
Friday 30th: available
Saturday 1st: available after 2pm
Sunday 2nd: booked 1pm-3pm

Kuma takes her role as “protector of tiny human”, very, very seriously 😂

A bit about me!
I’ve realised there’s not a lot of information about me on this page and It’s important that people who potentially want to use this service have some insight on who I am! 😊
I’m Lottie, and I’ve set up this organisation for so many reasons!
I found that a lot of people really wanted/ needed some help or even just some company and support, but large organisations often charge $45+ an hour for very understandable reasons, admin, insurance etc, and that is just not affordable for a lot of people! I wanted people to have a practical and personal support system where the people I work with are treated as friends and family.
I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters and come from a very modern family. My sister has Down Syndrome and my passion for care definitely stemmed from my relationship with her, seeing her grow into a capable and independent young woman has been an amazing experience and I’m incredibly thankful for her! My youngest brother has been recently diagnosed with Autism, at this point I had already worked with many people on the spectrum and knew that this wouldn’t hold him back, but the anxiety I felt when I remembered how nasty people can be to someone who they label as “weird” was very real. My goal whenever working with somebody on the spectrum is to help them build their confidence and self worth, and to educate people on this.
We grew up on an animal sanctuary in Ireland and I have an overwhelming obsession with all animals, it can be very hard to shut me up about them once I get going (many of you will already know this!) 😂
I have two beautiful dogs and a cat who I can also talk about quite incessantly and you will often catch me walking them around Wellington (if you do see us, come and say hi!)
I absolutely adore what I do and that I have the opportunity to do it 😊
The fact that my job is essentially to be a friend and support system to inspirational people/ families is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding! I have very limited availability left but if you know anyone who could do with some help, this can be anything from nannying, support work, a friend, please share this page with them and I encourage questions! 😊❤️

Last weeks adventure with Maggie Rose was a good one, rights rally followed by Zealandia in the sun ☀️
Have really enjoyed getting to know Maggie the last few weeks and seeing her personality and funny side more and more every time we hang out 😊