Complex Chronic Illness Support Incorporated

"Those with chronic illnesses are not faking being sick, they are actually faking being well"

Many of our members comment that one of the hardest aspects of having complex chronic illness is that many people simply do not understand or believe how unwell they are as they often appear to look ok on the surface. At CCI Support we offer a safe & non judgmental environment where their complex and often debilitating illness is validated. Our Carer's Workshop for whanau and caregivers helps immensely by removing the barriers of misconceptions and disbelief around the illness their loved ones are experiencing. Therefore, helping to remove one layer or aspect delaying a healing state for sufferers. Those with complex chronic illness experience symptoms which severely impact their day-to-day life, such as extreme physical and mental fatigue, muscle and joint pain, impaired memory and concentration, sleep disturbance, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and anxiety.

Your donation today will help us to empower vulnerable people on their healing journey towards wellness by supporting many of our services including our award winning Towards Wellness programme.

We recently celebrated our 40th anniversary! Based in 1981 in Tauranga, CCI Support works with clients in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Wellington and throughout New Zealand, delivering an essential service where support and resources from the medical sector is limited. CCI Support is a charity which exists to ‘Empower People Towards Wellness’ by providing support, connections, education, and advocacy to clients who experience complex chronic illness, their whānau & their communities. Complex chronic illnesses include Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS), Fibromyalgia, Post-Viral Fatigue / Syndrome, Dysautonomia and Long COVID.

CCI Support clients progress from a life of pain and isolation towards an improved quality of life, re-engaging with their whānau and community, with an increased ability to participate in a life which is meaningful – and achieving our purpose to ‘Empower People Towards Wellness.’ Positive change in our clients is achieved by offering a range of services which are backed by a team of qualified field officers, a supportive staff and Board, and members who find connections, encouragement, and relief in a safe community. These services include: • Qualified Health & Wellness Facilitators who provide support, mentoring, advice, counselling, and advocacy • The award winning CCI Support Towards Wellness Programme offering the best research-based knowledge in an easy-to-understand package to help people living with complex chronic illness begin to find their next steps towards wellness • Workshops and support groups for clients and their whānau and their communities • Advocacy and awareness • Newsletters, library, bi-annual seminar.

The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to have an impact on CCIS and its clients. During lockdown, our organisation and its services were moved online, literally overnight, in order to continue to provide our clients with a seamless provision of services, and a constant community of support. Throughout lockdown and emerging into the new levels, the need for our services has grown, we are currently investigating ways to address this need. It is also expected that our services will be impacted by those seeking support for Long COVID, a set of symptoms including fatigue, muscle and body aches, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and difficulty concentrating. The full impact of the pandemic is yet to be seen, and we remain prepared to offer support those experiencing long-term symptoms.