Transcript Impact on local community

Christchurch City Council’s Role
in Strengthening Communities
Marie Byrne
Strengthening Communities Adviser
Riccarton/Wigram Ward
Strengthening Communities
• Key Driver - Strengthening Communities
Strategy
• Key Driver - Three Year Plan
• Levels of Service
• Other Strategic Directions
– Ageing Together Strategy
– Youth Strategy
– Social Housing Strategy
Strengthening Communities Strategy
Eight Key Goals
• Understanding and
documenting communities’
trends, issues and imperatives
• Promoting collaboration among key
stakeholders, including government
agencies, Maori, iwi and community and
voluntary organisations, to identify and
address community issues
Strengthening Communities Strategy
Eight Key Goals
• Enhancing engagement and participation
in local decision-making
• Helping build and sustain a
sense of local community
• Ensuring that communities
have access to community facilities that
meet their needs
Strengthening Communities Strategy
Eight Key Goals
• Increasing participation in
community recreation and
sport programmes and events
• Enhancing the safety of communities and
neighbourhoods
• Improving basic life skills so that all
residents can participate fully in society
Why Is Strengthening Communities
Important?
• Improves the bonds within a particular
community
• Links to wider communities
• Increase of skills
• Build mutual understanding
and trust
• Broaden community
resources
Why Is Strengthening Communities
Important?
Strong Communities
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Have higher democratic participation
Are cleaner and safer
Have better educational achievement
Have higher economic growth
Have lower mortality rates
Have a healthier environment
Are more attractive places for people to
live, visit and invest
Community Outcomes 2013-22
Strong communities underpin the
achievement of Christchurch’s
Community Outcomes for 2013-22
•Good Governance
•Liveable City
•Strong Communities
•Healthy Environment
Strengthening Communities Adviser
Purpose of the Position
Supporting the various community sectors within local
areas
Engage, mobilise, organise and build strong communities
Lead processes to stimulate local action on a sustained
basis
Assist sectors work towards improved social, safety,
wellbeing, cultural and quality of life conditions
Key Areas of Work
• Community Capacity Building &
Organisational Development
• Community Engagement
• Community Research, Analysis and
Strategic Planning
• Community Grants
• Project Management
• Community Networks and Partnerships
Strengthening Communities Teams
Northern Team
•Fendalton/Waimairi
•Shirley/Papanui
Eastern Team
•Burwood/Pegasus
•Hagley/Ferrymead
SouthWest Team
•Akaroa/Wairewa
•Lyttelton/Mt Herbert
•Riccarton/Wigram
•Spreydon/Heathcote
City Wide Team
•Disability
•Multicultural
•Youth & Children
•Arts
•Older Adults & Gender
•Maori Arts
Key Social Issues
The Ageing Population
• The median age in Christchurch is expected to
be 41.4 years in 2021. This will be noticed
even more when the baby boomers reach
retirement age.
Impact on local community
– Increased need for programmes and activities for
older adults
– Social isolation - varying needs dependant upon
financial status and health status
– Increased need for social contact as many extended
families are not living in the same city or are working
longer hours
Key Social Issues
Multi-Cultural Communities
• There are over 150 different ethnicities living in
Christchurch. Riccarton has an increasing Asian
population and Riccarton Wigram is made up of 6.7%
Maori and 2.5% Pacific
• Impact on local community
– Immigrants feeling disconnected from the community and
unsure how to participate in decision-making that impacts on
their lives
– Need to nurture communities to retain their culture and
traditions for future generations
– Need to nurture understanding and respect of different cultures
– Need for encouraging integration and developing opportunities
for people to learn about different cultures
– Isolation issues for elderly migrants
– Language barriers, accessing and understanding
governmental and non-governmental services.
Key Social Issues
Decrease in Physical Activity
• From the Hillary Commission figures, 30% of 5-14 year
olds in New Zealand are obese. The levels of activity
appear to be falling in the western world and levels of
obesity are rising in NZ (11% of the population in 1989
to 17% in 1997). This has huge health and social
consequences.
• Impact on local community
– A multi-sectoral approach is required including health,
recreation, sport and local government
– Increased need for activity friendly community planning i.e.
walkways, parks, etc
– Increased need for targeted programmes for children aged 312 years
Key Social Issues
Disabilities
• Worldwide, the number one disability in 2020 will be
heart disease; the number two disability will be
depression. One in five New Zealanders have a long
term impairment and only 30% of people with
disabilities earn over $15,000.
• Impact on local community
– Increased need for community services which support people
to live independently
– Increased number of people feeling disconnected due to
family, employment, health and safety issues
– Stigma for people with mental illness living within the
community, because they are seen as different and ‘scary’
– Lack of resources for community organisations to deal with
people with disabilities
Key Social Issues
Changing Family Dynamics
• The concept of the family changing with more parents,
parenting alone and people with multi-families.
• Impact on local community
– The lack of male role models
– Time poor - More parents working longer hours
– Increased demand for affordable childcare / OSCAR
programmes with the need for double income families
– Children having two homes and two communities
– Multiple families and financial implications to support two
families
– Need for affordable support and education programmes and
services for caregivers / whanau
– Need for targeted programmes and services for teen fathers
and mothers
– Social Services gaps for Men.
Community Research, Analysis and
Strategic Planning
Respond flexibly to local trends and issues
• Community Profiles
– Profile Expo
– Vignettes
• Awareness of community trends
• Keeping up to date with latest research
– Research in to affect on social wellbeing by the migration of
the population from east to west
• Providing advice on local issues to other
Council staff
– Community perspective – locally based
– Community Board perspective
Community Engagement
Promote and provide opportunities for communities to
participate in Council decision-making processes at both
city-wide and local levels
• Advising local community groups on
Council and other initiatives they can be
involved in
• Organising & facilitating participatory
processes
• Advising on engagement techniques
• Support deputations to Community Board
• Advising staff on local issues
Community Grants
Fund local community organisations and projects that align
to Council’s strategic directions and relevant Council
strategies
• Advising groups on funding options,
assessing applications, writing &
presenting reports, accountability
– Capital Endowment
– Strengthening Communities
– Small Grants Fund
– Discretionary Response Fund
– Youth Development Fund
Community Networks and Partnerships
Provide support and advice to local community groups to
help them to become more effective with a focus on
encouraging groups to work together collaboratively
• Facilitate six-weekly Riccarton
networking meeting
– Held in Upper Riccarton Library,
Wednesdays 12-1pm
• Facilitate partnerships & collaboration
between organisations
Community Capacity Building &
Organisational Development
Support capacity building of local community organisations
• Organisational capacity checks
• Supporting new community groups
• Meet with /support existing community
organisations
Riccarton Community
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Low socio economic
Higher proportion of renting
Some long term residents
Student accommodation – temporary
residents
• High proportion of social housing
• High level of ethnic diversity
• Little community involvement and
community ownership
Post Earthquake
• Increase in businesses – particularly in
residential areas
• Higher rents – changing dynamics of
neighbourhoods
• Higher levels of socialising – shifting of
city centre to suburbs
• Frustration by residents – what about us?
– Riccarton West area
– Neighbourhood Policing Team
– Collaboration between organisations
– (Neighbourhood Support, NGO’s, Council,
Students)
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Neighbourhood Support Group meetings
Common Ground Café
Community Fun Day
Mural
Community Market
Sports in The Park
Street Cleanup
Positive Effects
• Community ownership - community-led
solutions
• Decrease in crime
• Student involvement in local area
• Community Partnerships
Going Forward – Key Questions
• What part can university and student
engagement play in strengthening our
local communities?
• How can we promote a two way
relationship between our local
communities and the University that
benefits both parties?
• How can our local communities become
a learning environment in a way that
benefits all stakeholders?
Thank You
• Marie Byrne
• Strengthening Communities Adviser
• 941 6502
[email protected]