Christchurch Community Boards scoop awards

8 June 2007

Christchurch Community Boards win awards at the New Zealand Community Board conference

Christchurch community boards dominated the national best practice awards for significant projects at the New Zealand Community Boards conference in Manukau last night.

The Shirley-Papanui Community Board won the supreme award for its portfolio of projects on “Working with Children”. The board’s projects which include the Papanui Youth Facility, the North West Youth Forum and assistance with the Casebrook Intermediate School, were also the winner of the Unicef-sponsored Working with Children category.

Judges described the portfolio and variety of projects undertaken by the Board over several years both with and for its young residents as “stunning’’.

They commented on the commitment, innovation and collaboration shown by the Board and the responsive way in which the Board had consulted with young people and met their needs.

The board was also highly commended in the Consultation category for its consultation last year on the Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan. As a result of its efforts, 30 per cent of the submissions to the plan were from its area.

Community Board chair Yvonne Palmer was delighted to receive the supreme award and said the board had worked hard for the past nine years to respond to the needs of young people in its area.

“Our young people were involved in the planning process for initiatives, particularly the Papanui Youth Facility. As a result, we have a brilliant facility which our young people love and use extensively. We are extremely proud of it,” she says.

The Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board won the Partnership category for its Mothers at Home Programme. The programme, which started last year, provides learning opportunities for mothers with guest speakers from different agencies and services.

The simplicity and cost effective nature of the programme appealed to the judges, who said the Board was the funding catalyst for its success.

The Fendalton Waimairi Community Board won the Harmonious Relations Award sponsored by the Human Rights Commission. The Commission’s principal adviser Race Relations Samuelu Sefuiva said that the board had recognised the growing diversity in its area and had introduced a number of initiatives including the Culture Galore event with its neighbouring board, Riccarton Wigram

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