Heretaunga Women's Centre took out both the Social Enterprise of the Year and the Overall Supreme Award on Thursday. Photo / Supplied
Heretaunga Women's Centre took out both the Social Enterprise of the Year and the Overall Supreme Award on Thursday. Photo / Supplied
The Heretaunga Women's Centre has cause to celebrate, with the dedication and drive of their volunteers being voted supreme in the NZME Hastings City Celebration Awards.
The awards celebrate businesses within the Hastings CBD and were held at Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre on Thursday.
Up forgrabs were 10 award categories and the Overall Supreme title.
The Heretaunga Women's Centre, which has an overarching kaupapa to enhance and advocate for the empowerment and wellbeing of women, took out both the Social Enterprise of the Year and the Overall Supreme Award in a sweeping victory.
The centre's service manager, Amanda Meynell, said they were thrilled to take away two wins, in particular the Supreme Award, when up against other local legends.
"We were thrilled to be there with all the other amazing social enterprises in Hastings.
"We dedicated the award to all the women in Hastings and the wider Hawke's Bay who make this place vibrant and beautiful. We have an amazing team of staff and also wanted to dedicate the award to them."
This year the Heretaunga Women's Centre established SuperGrans in Heretaunga, an initiative that enables women to support each other in one-on-one meetings, where they can develop ideas and skills.
The centre also tackled Covid-19, addressing how pandemic anxieties exacerbate the persisting challenges of daily life.
Heretaunga Women's Centre service manager Amanda Meynell was thrilled to win the Overall Supreme Award at the Hastings City Celebration Awards. Photo / Paul Taylor
"Covid has been challenging for every one of us. At the centre we moved our services online to reach a wider base of women around Hawke's Bay and to provide ongoing support for them.
"We offered wellbeing, mindfulness and yoga classes over Zoom and urgent phone counselling to women that required immediate support," Meynell said.
Meynell said that there are still numerous challenges in Hawke's Bay and across the motu for women, with issues relating to gender equality and gender equity, family violence, poverty, housing and domestic abuse.
"Our main point of difference is that we are a safe space for women. We want to be a place for social connection, where isolated women can come to feel supported.
"We're thrilled to have an opportunity to recognise the women that make this all possible," she said.
NZME Hastings City Celebration Awards:
Professional Service of the Year: The Lean Hub Health or Beauty of the Year: Maxim Barbers Hospitality of the Year: The Artisan Cafe Trade of the Year: Stichbury Automotive Care Retail of the Year: Richard James Jeweller New Business of the Year: Sazio Business Resilience Award: House of Travel Customer Experience Award: Cascara CBD Ambassador of the Year: Rob and Barb Hansen Social Enterprise of the Year: Heretaunga Women's Centre Supreme: Heretaunga Women's Centre
