Community Hub Project

Community Hub Project - Tikipunga

What is it?

Community Hubs is a community action project in three communities in Northland:

• Whangarei
• Kaipara
• The Far North

What is community action?

Community action describes a process which is led by the community itself. Ideas, information and support may be available from a variety of sources, but at the end of the day, it is the communities own decision about what they want to do.

How did this project arise?

There were two key things that led to the community hubs project:

1.   Manaia Health had implemented a successful community action health programme in Hikurangi which they were keen to see extended, and

2.   The Northland Sport and Physical Activity Strategy was developed with input from health, sport, education, and local councils. Two actions were:

a)      Reduce barriers and improve equity of access to physical activity (Strategy 2.4) 

b)      Develop Active friendly communities. (Strategy 4.3)

Manaia Health and the Regional Physical Activity governance group decided to come together and support the development of community action projects in three areas of Northland.

While the Northland Sport and Physical Activity Strategy involvement is hopeful that community identified action will include physical activities, this is ultimately up to the community.

Facilitators were employed in three PHOs, (Manaia, Kaipara Care, and Te Tai Tokerau PHOs).

So what is the role of the facilitators?

Their role is to support the communities to work through their needs and get things happening in the community that will improve the health and wellbeing of the community.

So what’s in it for communities?

Community activities often struggle because of lack of energy, - this project supports community activity by providing the facilitation resource , which lightens the burden on already busy community people. It is important to be clear that the leadership of the project remains with the community.

What has been happening?