Community Consultation 2025

🌟 Strengths of the Service

• Staff Friendliness & Helpfulness: Most frequently praised aspect. Staff are described as welcoming, respectful, and supportive, with mentors making people feel heard and understood.

• Support & Service Quality: Strong appreciation for practical and emotional support, including food parcels, mentoring, and tailored services. Services are seen as reliable, valuable, and diverse.

• Accessibility & Ease of Use: Services are easy to access, with simple processes, helpful staff, and convenient locations.

• Community Value: The Trust is viewed as a vital part of the local community, fostering connection, trust, and wellbeing.

💬 Communication & Awareness

• Clear Communication: Positive feedback on responsiveness across multiple channels (face-to-face, phone, social media).

• Recommendations & Visibility: Many have recommended the Trust to others. There’s a call for more advertising and clearer service information.

🧒 Youth & Family Engagement

• Youth Activities: Strong interest in more programmes for children and teens, including outdoor adventures and holiday activities.

• Parenting & Emotional Support: Requests for support with neurodivergent children, anxiety, and self-esteem.

• Safe Spaces: Emphasis on creating safe, supportive environments for Tamariki and whānau.

🌿 Cultural Inclusion & Adult Learning

• Te Ao Māori Engagement: Appreciation for Māori cultural programming and events like Matariki hui.

• Adult Education: Interest in practical classes, Māori night lessons, and lifelong learning opportunities.

🌍 Community Connection & Social Equity

• Social Connection: Desire for community gardens, swap groups, drop-in support, and events that build cohesion.

• Support for Vulnerable Groups: Suggestions for outreach to isolated individuals, especially the elderly and those in poverty.

• Equity & Inclusion: Calls for free food for children, education on life paths, and services that meet diverse needs.

⚠️ Barriers & Suggestions

• Not Needing Services: Many haven’t needed support yet.

• Lack of Awareness: Some are unaware of what’s offered or how to engage.

• Relocation/New to Area: New residents feel disconnected or uninformed.

• Emotional/Social Barriers: Shyness, feeling unentitled, or disconnected were noted.

• Logistical Barriers: Transport, time constraints, and home detention were mentioned.

• Service Consistency: Concerns about staff turnover and programme availability.

• Suggestions for Improvement: Ideas included signage, food banks, first aid courses, and graffiti clean-up.

🧭 Where Whānau Access Support

• Family & Friends: Most common source of support.

• Medical Professionals: GPs and doctors are frequently mentioned.

• Online Platforms: Google, Facebook, and websites are used to find help.

• Community Organizations: Churches, schools, and the Trust itself are key support hubs.

• No Engagement: Some haven’t needed or sought support yet.

Create opportunities for Rangatahi in education/occupation/recreation

Aligned Feedback Themes:

• Youth Activities: Strong interest in outdoor adventures and holiday programmes.

• Parenting & Emotional Support: Support for neurodivergent children and youth mental health.

• Safe Spaces: Need for supportive environments for Tamariki and whānau.

• Adult Education: Interest in lifelong learning and Māori night classes.

Implementation Ideas:

• Expand youth programmes with career workshops, creative arts, and sports.

• Partner with schools and employers to offer internships and mentoring.

• Create youth-led initiatives to build leadership and community pride.

• Offer parenting workshops focused on youth mental health and neurodiversity.

Extending our Community Hub to include Mental Health Services/Community Health Services

Aligned Feedback Themes:

• Support & Service Quality: Appreciation for emotional support and mentoring.

• Barriers & Suggestions: Emotional/social barriers like shyness and disconnection.

• Community Connection: Desire for drop-in support and outreach to isolated individuals.

• Te Ao Māori Engagement: Cultural programming that supports wellbeing.

Implementation Ideas:

• Integrate mental health services into the hub with drop-in counselling and peer support.

• Train staff in trauma-informed care and cultural competency.

• Offer mobile outreach for those facing transport or emotional barriers.

• Host wellbeing events that blend cultural celebration with health education.

Promoting environmental resilience in our community

Aligned Feedback Themes:

• Community Gardens & Swap Groups: Interest in sustainable, community-led initiatives.

• Environmental Suggestions: Graffiti clean-up and beautification projects.

• Social Equity: Calls for free food and education on life paths.

Implementation Ideas:

• Develop community gardens with youth and whānau involvement.

• Launch eco-volunteer programmes for clean-up and sustainability education.

• Run workshops on food resilience, composting, and climate awareness.

• Collaborate with local groups to promote green spaces and environmental justice.