Strengthening Communities Initiatives

In 2023, ANCAD, Catalyse, Community Waitakere, Inspiring Communities and other partners convened an initiative with community organisations to mobilise a collaborative response to support and enable collective action that strengthens communities of place, interest and affinity, across the Tāmaki Makaurau region. This developing project will amplify the voices of the ecosystem of community networks and collectives and assist organisations to capture and share the value of their work. It will create opportunities for learning and sharing, awhi tangata whenua-led and community-led initiatives and build social infrastructure, that supports shared community goals. A co-designed action plan has been created from the hui and engaged funders are supporting these actions. We aim to pilot some activities mid-way through 2024-2025 with a view to providing resources, engagement and stakeholder engagement at the regional level.

In 2014, The Safe Spaces initiative was established, to provide a safe space for
rangatahi and their caregivers to seek information, support and services. During 2014, the project was funded by Auckland Council, through the Violence Prevention Community Development and Safety team at Auckland Council. It operated in three locations: Glenfield Leisure Centre, Takapuna Library and Orewa Library, with a coordinator. Other funders, including the Todd Foundation, MSD and Z Energy supported the continuation of the project, with the latter establishing two Stay Safe Information Centres at Northcross and Lakeside Service Stations. ‘Wide Eyes’, a youth empowerment and mentoring programme, in partnership with Heart for Youth Trust, and the Shane Cameron’s ‘CHAMP’ school holiday programme, participated in this collaborative initiative. Evaluation reports concurred, that as a strengths-based project, Stand by ME and the Safe Spaces initiative provided evidence of increased confidence in young people, better communication, increased positive behaviours, as well as young people feeling empowered to ask for help and act for change. In 2024, the Safe Spaces project was re-established with a pilot currently running in Takapuna Library, as a collective partnership with Neighbourhood Support, RESPECT, North Shore Family Violence Prevention Network and Springboard Trust. The project today is staffed by a social worker and youth worker one day a week, to complement other youth service provision in the local area.

(Below) The Safe Spaces team at Takapuna Library.

The East Coast Bays Community-led storm recovery initiative aims to explore what recovery means for impacted communities with respect to extreme weather events in 2023 and the ongoing effects. It also aims to support the initial development of grassroots initiatives that support long term recovery in communities and build resilience.

Kristi Shaw is the facilitator for this initiative working alongside Deb Humphries, the facilitator of the Bays in Action Collective. To learn more about them click here.

To get in contact with Kristi about this project email kristi@ancad.org.nz

This work is generously funded by Auckland Council-led Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery office for the benefit of East Coast Bays communities.

Storm Recovery

In response to the 2023 extreme weather events that caused widespread damage and disruption the Auckland Council Storm Recovery Office has developed a wellbeing recovery plan for whānau and communities in Tāmaki Makaurau.

This aims to:

• Coordinate the delivery of initiatives, support, and services across central and local government,agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and service providers.
• Take a broad, long-term view of hauora (health and wellbeing) so that individuals, whānau and communities impacted by the 2023 weather events have access to the support they need to recover well.

​Infographic (above) showing Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan focus areas and outcomes. – Retrieved from Auckland Council Website , 2024.

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/recovery-extreme-weather-disasters/Pages/tamaki-makaurau-recovery-plan.aspx

Model for Recovery

Te Whare Tapa Whā – a model for wellbeing

We know from our communities that there are physical, spiritual, social, mental and emotional impacts on wellbeing caused by the weather events – impacts that will be felt now and impacts that will be felt into the future. Taking this holistic view of wellbeing, this plan aligns with Te Whare Tapa Whā1. Through this model, health and wellbeing is described as a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls (taha) representing different aspects of wellbeing; wairua (spiritual), hinengaro (mental and emotional), tinana (physical) and whānau (family and social). Our connection with the whenua (land) forms the foundation of the whare.

For more information about the Storm Recovery plan Storm recovery documents