It’s been a busy few months for Community Networks (CN) and LINK Upper Clutha, sister organisations operated by the Alpine Community Development Trust (ACDT), which together make up Wanaka’s one-stop community support centre.

CN connects people to services such as the Foodbank, Justice of the Peace services and budget advice, while LINK aims to provide information and support for community groups and initiatives, enable connection and collaboration, and build community resilience.

Last year, 5,566 people received a service from CN and 431 food parcels were given to local families struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, LINK played a key role in Covid-19 recovery through the short-term tourism and economic recovery task force and the longer-term Regenerative Recovery Advisory Group.

This year the team has grown significantly. CN has taken on a new social worker and is recruiting for a food security project manager, while new LINK community development coordinator Joanna Perry has been in the role since February.

The new CN office coordinator is Tiffany Shervell, who, alongside Kim Baker, provides front desk support at the Wanaka Community Hub from 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

The growth is largely the result of increased government funding, particularly new Ministry of Social Development grants aimed at increasing foodbank security and connecting communities.

ACDT was one of 112 organisations nationwide to receive funding to establish a community connection service, enabling people to access information and services across multiple government agencies and service providers.

LINK facilitator Kathy Dedo said the grant had enabled ACDT to “add resource to broaden and deepen our focus on community connection,” with registered social worker Heather Clay (who is available by appointment to provide support with a variety of issues like parenting, finances and mental wellbeing, and connect people with appropriate longer-term support) and Joanna.

Joanna will support Kathy on connection projects, the first of which was LINK’s successful recent Neighbours Day Aotearoa celebrations – four events in four days, including workshops, morning tea and a Friday night movie.

CN manager Kate Murray said there was “such an opportunity now to increase the services we provide.”

“We’re looking at how we can raise awareness of the many support services available through our colleagues at Community Networks and the agencies housed at the Hub,” Kathy said.

“The shape [our] work takes is always changing as different needs and opportunities emerge. For example, we’re currently looking at the idea of a community transport scheme, after hearing this is an issue for some who struggle to get into town for extracurricular activities.”

More developments included a community group support fund for small groups needing a financial boost, and the first Connection Café of 2021, focusing on services for senior residents of the Upper Clutha.

While CN has been operating since 2003 and LINK arose from a Department of Internal Affairs development scheme in 2015, the two teams now work closely together to serve the growing community across the full wellbeing spectrum.

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PHOTO: Supplied