Co-founder Margaret Kirk celebrated the opening of the Kihikihi Community Hub last week.
Kirk said their debut was constructive, and people who attended wanted to share their resources and ideas.
The Hub hosted Jessica Brown from the Citizens Advice Bureau from 10am to 2pm on Thursday at the Kihikihi Bowling Club.
“I’ve got this whole page of ideas, we talked about ways to find funding and ways of sharing resources more,” Kirk said.
“It was pretty good, there was two hours of solid brain storming.”
They discussed appointing a funding expert to the group. Kirk says now that the Community Hub has held its first event, and they have a dedicated venue to use, they can apply for funding.
She attended a Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) public meeting this week, to learn more about fundraising and what funds are available. COGS is a Department of Internal Affairs scheme which supports non-profit community groups.
In addition to Kirk and Brown, Violence Free Waipā coordinator Ruth Nicholls, CommSafe community safety officer Mandy Merson, Kawhia public health nurse Christine Martin, and Te Awamutu public health nurse Bronwyne Albright, also attended.
From left, Violence Free Waipā coordinator Ruth Nicholls, CommSafe community safety officer Mandy Merson, Kawhia public health nurse Christine Martin, Citizens Advice Bureau manager Jessica Brown, and Te Awamutu public health nurse Bronwyne Albright. Photo: Margaret Kirk.
Kirk said one of the nurses didn’t know about the police’s Integrated Safety Response (ISR). It is a multi-agency intervention aimed at keeping the victims of family violence safe while working with people to prevent further violence.
“There was a lot of people interested in sharing phone numbers of support people,” Kirk said.
Youth care and events between 3pm and 6pm was another item that the group discussed, as well as a Kihikihi toy library.
The Kihikihi Community Hub will host the Citizens Advice Bureau again this Thursday from 10am to 2pm at the Kihikihi Bowling Club.
