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Community Wellbeing Committee
28 June 2023
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File No.: 23/439
7.1 Community Network Updates
1. Purpose
1.1 The
purpose of this report is to provide key updates from network meetings as well
as presenting their minutes to the Committee.
2. Recommendation
2.1 That
Report Community Network Updates be received.
2.2 That
this matter or decision is recognised as not
significant in terms of S76 of the Local Government Act.
3. Our Communities
3.1 Education Horowhenua
Education
Horowhenua have held two network forums since the last Community Wellbeing
Report. The first forum was held on Thursday 23 March 2023 at the Horowhenua
Learning Centre (HLC), with 17 attendees.
Adrian
Christie (Ministry of Social Development) presented on their Flexiwage Fund.
Updates were provided from the two Forum Working Groups –
· Attendance
· Transition
Beyond Schools
· David Harris
provided an update on our Columbian Refugees and how they are settling in the
Horowhenua district.
The second
forum was held on Thursday 23 March 2023 at Council, with 17 attendees.
With his Ministry of Education hat on, Mark Robinson is a
welcome returned to the forum.
Updates
were provided from the two Forum Working Groups –
· Attendance
· Transition
Beyond Schools
3.2 Horowhenua Older Person’s Network
The
Horowhenua Older Person’s Network have met twice since the last Community
Wellbeing Report.
The
first forum was held on Thursday 30 March 2023 at Te Takeretanga o
Kura-hau-pō, with 19 attendees.
In
response to previous conversations about forum members wanting to know more
about Council services, presentations were given from the following Council
departments:
· Aquatics
– an overview of the range of services and a brief tour around the
Aquatics website.
· Parks and
Property – what projects are in development, including up and coming
projects.
· Librarians
– in particular, services and activities that may be of interest to the
forum:
o Affordable internet packages
through SkinnyJUMP
o Book a Librarian
o Free courses around digital
inclusion to support.
The
purpose of these presentations was to inform members about some of the services
Council provide to our community. Digital exclusion and feelings of social
isolation have been concerns raised on numerous occasions from forum members.
The
second forum was held on Thursday 04 May 2023 at Council, with 21 attendees.
Presentations
were given on:
· Parks and
Property – this department is somewhat of a forum favourite.
· Rates Rebates
– an overview on how Rates Rebates work, who is eligible and who can
apply. Of particular interest was that learning that Council Officers can
provide home visits to those with accessibility barriers and assist with
completing the paperwork to apply.
· Organisation
Spotlight provided by Ministry of Social Development. Susan Carson provided an
overview of how Work and Income can support our older people, including
information about the:
o Disability Allowance
o Accommodation Supplement
o Hardship Grants
o Community Service Cards.
· Age on the Go
Expo 2023 has been confirmed for Friday 10 November 2023 at the Horowhenua
Events Centre. The event last year was very popular and attracted 75
stallholders. The Expo offers a range of activities, services and products
which enhance the lives of older people in our community.
3.3 Horowhenua Youth Services Network
The
Horowhenua Youth Services Network convened on two occasions since the last
Community Wellbeing Report. The first meeting took place on Thursday 23 March
2023, with 19 attendees.
The
second meeting occurred on Thursday 04 May 2023, with 13 attendees.
During
these meetings, participants discussed and established the priorities for the
year ahead, leading to the implementation of various capacity training
opportunities, focus groups, and collaborative efforts with Education
Horowhenua.
At
the March meeting consideration and further discussion about the priorities and
some actions to get started on covered –
· Anti-Vaping
– working group – resources, education, programmes, funding, and
vaping bylaw input for 2024. Education/awareness targeting Year 7/8s. 30 min
talk. Define critical info.
· Youth Expo
(late Feb/March) – working group – health, wellbeing, fun, social,
employment
· Youth housing
– working group – Housing Action Plan (youth)
· Basic needs
– working group – local directory of foodbanks, meals, where to go
for free or cheap essential items. Natalie MacDonald and Youth Empowerment
Project (yEP) to champion the basic needs directory for youth and families
· Youth falling
through the gaps – stories and review (working with the Locality Group
lead)
At
the May meeting, Grant Congdon and Patrick Rennell (co-Chairs of Education
Horowhenua), shared the 2023 priorities for the two working groups that were
formed to drive actions toward achieving positive outcomes. The Horowhenua
Education forum provided support to these working groups in developing two
plans within a year. Recognising the significance of these initiatives, the
Youth Services Network expressed their support and keen interest in actively
participating in the working groups.
The priorities
identified for the two working groups are as follows:
· Attendance:
Focusing on strategies and interventions to improve student attendance rates in
educational institutions within the Horowhenua district.
· Positive
Connection to Education: Emphasising the importance of fostering positive
relationships between students, whānau and the education system, aiming to
enhance student engagement and overall educational experience.
· Post-School
Transitions: Understanding the challenges and providing support to students
during their transition from secondary education to further education,
vocational training, or employment.
· Social Issues
Impacting Students: Identifying and addressing social issues that have an
adverse impact on student’s wellbeing and academic performance, with the
goal of fostering a supportive and inclusive educational environment.
These
priorities reflect the collective efforts of the Horowhenua Youth Services
Network and Education Horowhenua in addressing the needs and concerns of the
youth population. By collaborating and actively participating in the working
groups, the network aims to contribute to the development and implementation of
effective strategies that will bring about positive outcomes for the youth in
the community.
During
the recent meeting of the Horowhenua Youth Services Network, several
suggestions for Capacity Building workshops and events were put forth. The
Council has taken action on these suggestions, resulting in the following
planned activities:
· Emergency
Disaster Preparedness Course: A hui will be conducted on 15 June, where
attendees will receive training on emergency disaster preparedness.
· yEP Parliament
Trip: planned for Thursday 20 July, as part of the Youth Empowerment Project
(yEP).
· Nathan Wallis
Neuroscience Educator: the network has arranged for Nathan Wallis, a renowned
neuroscience educator, to deliver a session focused on neuroscience and its
relevance to youth development on 24 July 2023.
· I am Hope -
Primary Schools Only: An ‘I am Hope’ event is scheduled for 08
August, targeting primary schools to promote mental health and wellbeing among
young students.
· Publicising
Youth Support Services - Get Content Workshop: in August, a workshop called
"Get Content" will be organised to provide guidance on effectively
publicising and promoting youth support services.
The
Horowhenua Youth Services Network is pleased with the Council's response and
implementation of these suggestions. These planned activities aim to enhance
the capacity of the network and provide valuable opportunities for learning,
engagement, and support for the youth in the Horowhenua community.
3.4 Horowhenua Access and Inclusion Forum
Networks
meetings were conducted on 28 March and 09 May 2023, engaging community service
organisations and advocates for people living with disabilities.
During
the March meeting, Lael Marshall, a young rangatahi residing in the Horowhenua
and facing disabilities, voiced her concerns regarding the absence of suitable
gathering spaces for people to socialise and spend time together. Lael
expressed her strong desire to establish a secure and inclusive environment
within the Horowhenua community, emphasising the importance of creating a safe
space where individuals can come together and engage in meaningful
interactions.
At
the May meeting, Christine Price, a parent of two autistic children, presented
a programme proposal called Tuakana/Teina. This initiative involves assigning a
neurotypical child at school to support another child with sensory
sensitivities by reminding them about their specific requirements and guiding
them to follow these necessary accommodations.
In a
moment of great excitement, the Access and Inclusion Forum announced the long
awaited arrival of the all-terrain wheelchairs. The forum members were ecstatic
to witness the introduction of these, which will grant community members the
freedom to explore the natural beauty of our surroundings alongside their
whānau. The all-terrain wheelchairs signify a noteworthy milestone in
promoting accessibility and inclusion within our district, enabling individuals
with disabilities to connect with outdoor experiences and enhancing wellbeing.
The Horowhenua Access and Inclusion Forum appreciates the funding from the
Department of Internal Affairs to enable this project.
4. Appendices
There are no attachments for this
report.
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Author(s)
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Mark Hammond
Community Facilities and
Services Manager
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Approved by
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Brent Harvey
Group Manager -
Community Experience & Services
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Monique Davidson
Chief Executive Officer
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