Planning for a Canterbury StarJam concert this weekend is under way despite the nationwide organisation ceasing operations earlier this month.
For more than 20 years, the organisation provided young New Zealanders with disabilities the opportunity to shine like superstars as they danced, sung and performed.
Volunteer at Ashburton’s StarJam group, named Groove Getters, Nicola Algie said she and the group’s nine members and their families had felt ‘‘shocked, disappointed, let down and angry’’ as the organisation drew its operations to a close.
‘‘I was absolutely gutted, my heart broke when I, like everyone else involved, got the email about the closure. I had a parent say ‘How do you tell your kid they can no longer come to this?’,’’ Algie said.
The Groove Getters have been tutored by Mary-Jean Hart and supported by Algie and fellow volunteers Belinda Brand and Karina Webb, meeting at St David’s Church.
Talks were under way in Ashburton on how to keep a similar programme to StarJam going in 2025.
But in the meantime, at the forefront of Algie’s mind has been the organisation’s annual end-of-year concert, which some of the Groove Getters would participate in. It will be held November 30 at the La Vida Centre Christchurch.
She said she had been able to ensure the show went on.
‘‘Thanks to my employer Plains Power who have supported me, I have been able to work with others to make sure the kids and their families can have the concert,’’ she said.
She said everyone involved had been working so hard towards the performance.
Normally the concert took months to plan, as it was a full concert including lights, make-up and hair.
‘‘Everything planned for the concert was under the name StarJam, so we are unable to access any of it,’’ Algie said.
Algie has been joined by other volunteers who are determined to ensure the concert goes ahead.
The first hurdle they faced was the cost of venue hire.
Former Rakaia woman and founder of Christchurch-based charity NZ Gifts of Love and Strength Vickie-Anne Parker connected the volunteers to the Christchurch Casino.
The casino came on board to pay the venue hire and support the volunteers to get liability insurance.
The call is now out for anyone in Canterbury who can help as they are looking for photographers, videographers, an emcee, stage helpers, makeup artists, hairdressers, security staff, help with food and with music.
‘‘It’s an insane amount of organisation. But as a collective group of volunteers banding together, we are pulling the concert together, even under the time pressure we have to work to,’’ Algie said.
• Anyone who wants to offer to help with the concert, 5pm on November 30 in Christchurch, can contact Nicola Algie on [email protected]
