Becky
“Becky is such a positive person. She is so willing to give things a go and to learn and develop. I am in awe of all the things she packs in, but more importantly her attitude to life.”
Becky Cammock is surrounded by people who believe in her. And now, the Wairoa resident is ready to believe in herself.
Becky is supported by CCS Disability Action’s Tairāwhiti Hawkes Bay branch and has been working with community coordinator Anna Coleman for almost three years. Becky has a learning disability which can make it challenging for her to concentrate. She also needs support interpreting information that’s not presented in a way that works for her needs. What she has in spades is a kind and caring nature and a determination to succeed.
“Becky is such a positive person. She is so willing to give things a go and to learn and develop. I am in awe of all the things she packs in, but more importantly her attitude to life,” says Anna.
Becky Cammock.
Becky was interested in getting more involved in her community, so Anna supported her to connect with several opportunities that now bring her joy. One of those things is Riding for the Disabled in Gisborne, with her beloved horse Milo. She’s also a regular attendee at Star Jam, an organisation that focuses on music and performance opportunities for disabled people. And she has taken up several courses through People First – aimed at building her money management and confidence.
One of her long-term goals was to get a job. It can be extremely challenging to secure paid work when you have an impairment, but even more so in a small town like Wairoa where employment options can be more limited. When Anna heard about the My Business Starter programme, she felt it would be a great solution to support Becky to succeed.
The course is targeted at disabled people who are interested in self-employment and began in early 2023. It was developed by the Disability Business Network and delivered in partnership with CCS Disability Action. Co-facilitators Julie Woods (aka ‘That Blind Woman’), Sandra Budd, and Selwyn Cook delivered a series of online, interactive workshops to small groups of participants for ten weeks – with follow-up online networking opportunities for graduates of the course through the Disability Business Network.
The course supports participants in developing a short business plan, learning how to define their product or service, discussing all-important financial considerations, and then guides people through how to get their business successfully underway.
Julie Woods and Anna Coleman with Becky.
Becky has always had a love of animals, particularly cats, and has a calm and easy way with them. “I’ve always loved cats. I love their personality,” she says. She lives with her grandmother – having lived with her since she was a toddler – and can be relied on to feed and care for their cats, even when they’re misbehaving.
“I’ve been helping grandma feed the cats. But I feed them separately because they fight. They can’t be close to each other. So, I feed our older cat in the living room and the little black one in the kitchen,” she explains.
Her first session of the My Business Starter programme got off to an inauspicious start, as it was scheduled on the night of the devastating floods. “We were actually very lucky, but other parts of town got hit. My grandma made sure that we were okay. We made sure that we kept the cats inside for the duration of the cyclone,” she explains.
Becky was undeterred and began diligently working through the programme – with Anna sitting alongside her on the Zoom screen each week and for the one-on-one coaching sessions also offered.
Anna, Becky, and the My Business Starter team used her love of animals as a springboard, considering the question: “What can I do?” and then shaping a plan around that. Becky identified an interest in pet sitting, drawing on her time at Riding for the Disabled where she assisted with grooming the horses.
To build on the skills and expertise she likely needed, Becky thought work experience at a local vet – support that was much needed in the wake of the cyclone – might be a helpful way to progress her business idea.
“They had a lot of cats that were abandoned. They were working hard to try and find homes for them. My job is to get the kittens used to people. I’ll sit and watch them and get them to come and sit around me. I really want the cats that are there to find a good home,” explains Becky.
Once the cats are properly socialised, they send them to the SPCA in Gisborne for adoption to find their fur-ever homes, something Becky is proud to be part of. Anna has noticed a real shift in Becky’s confidence since she started the course. “It’s really focussed her, and it’s made her much more determined to use her time when she volunteers at the vets too. She packs a lot in that time. She asks lots of questions of the vet, and she looks after the stray cats now. So, it’s made a huge difference,” she says.
Trish, Becky’s grandmother, has also noticed the difference in her. “Since you have been working with us, I have seen Becky come out of her shell. She now really likes doing things. She enjoys online courses, such as the My Business Starter Course and now the Business Disability Network. She likes new and interesting things,” says Trish.
And so, Furry Friends was born. Becky has a promotional flyer and, with Anna’s support, is keen to spread the word.
“Wairoa is a very small community, it’s only got 8,000 people, so word of mouth will be important. Becky and her nan are well-known and well-liked. So, I’m sure that it will be huge for Becky,” says Anna.
When asked what she thinks makes her business stand out, Becky’s answer suggests a person who recognises the value that she brings in the wider sense.
“I think it’s just my unique self. Because my nanna’s been telling me I’m a unique person, and she believes in me. My whole family says I can do this,” says Becky.
Now all we need is some Wairoa residents planning a holiday who are ready to give Furry Friends – and Becky – a go.
