Horowhenua neighbourhood support group welcomes grant boost post Covid 19

Horowhenua District Neighbourhood Support district co-ordinator Deborah Campbell and chairman Allan Mitchell.

Horowhenua District Neighbourhood Support is among the list of beneficiaries of a series of grants from Horowhenua District Council to community groups and organisations.

The community organisation features among the recipients of more than $115,000 listed as being distributed by the district council through applications to its community funding and recognition committee for the period 2021-22, rubber-stamped this week.

HDNS district co-ordinator Deborah Campbell said the council's total contributions to their organisation had increased from $15,000 to $25,000 annually, for which they were grateful.

"We strongly appreciate the ongoing support from HDC, and also Levin police," she said.

Horowhenua District Neighbourhood Support district co-ordinator Deborah Campbell and chairman Allan Mitchell.

Campbell said funding had becoming harder to secure since the outbreak of Covid-19, but the pandemic had also brought a greater demand on their services.

Formerly Neighbourhood Watch until a name change in the 1990s, it was a police-led initiative to tackle crime, but its scope was now broader.

It now also provides assistance with safety tips, CCTV information, fire and emergency safety, and cyber safety from online scams.

Its common purpose was to create "safer and caring neighbourhoods and communities, reducing the incidences and effects of criminal offending, building community resilience and strengthening community networks to improve the quality of life and enhance wellbeing".

Campbell worked out of an office based at Levin police station, but was mobile and held information meetings with neighbourhood groups willing to understand more, about what they could do individually and collectively to make their communities safer.

It continues to strike a chord, with more than 1500 participating in Neighbours Day this year, held annually in the last week of March.

The local organisation covered the district from Himitangi to Te Horo. There were already more than 5700 people signed up for support, a map on the wall in the office highlighting which areas were participating.

Campbell electronically circulated a weekly newsletter every Friday to members that was hand delivered to members who were not internet savvy.

Meanwhile, below is a list of beneficiaries as listed in the most recent HDC meeting agenda. The largest grant went to Tokomaru Hall, with $12,000 coming through a rural hall grant, with Manakau Hall ($6471.58), Mangahao (Mangaore) Hall ($7,183.28) and the Koputaroa Hall Society ($4,345.14) other beneficiaries of that fund.

Community and Social Services Grant
The Hearing Association Horowhenua Branch Incorporated $1000
Age Concern Horowhenua $2000
Living Well Counselling Centre $2500
Horowhenua Sports Academy $2500
Horowhenua SuperGrans trading as Skills4Living $5000
MAVtech (The National Museum of Audio Visual Arts and Sciences of NZ Trust) $2000
Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association $391
Hinemoa Boxing Club Levin Incorporated $2000
Birthright Levin Inc $1824
Refreshed Creations Trust $957.75
Te Awahou Kai $3,500
English Language Partners NZ Trust (Horowhenua Kapiti Centre) $1,800
Total $25,472.75

Community Development Grant
Age Concern Horowhenua $1500
St Mary Kiribati Catholic Group $1000
Moutoa Māori Wardens $3000
OnBoard Skate Incorporated $4690
Levin Waitarere Surf Life Saving Club $5608.58
Levin Citizens Advice Bureau $3000
Children's Day Event Committee $2000
Horowhenua Breathe Easy Support Group $750
Foxton Windmill Trust Incorporated $1500
Foxton Lions Club $1500
Te Whare Mahana Community Hub $6000
Total $30,848.58

Vibrant Communities Grant
Shannon Christmas Carnival Event $3000
Foxton Windmill Trust Incorporated $3000
MAVtech (The National Museum of Audio Visual Arts and Sciences of NZ Trust) $2665
Horowhenua District Neighbourhood Support $4900
Foxton Beach Community Centre $2520
Total $16,085.98

Special Projects Grant
Tokomaru Opiki Community Support and Civil Defence $740
Hope Kete $8686
Foxton Beach Community Centre $1000
Refreshed Creations Trust $2060
Total $12,486.96

Rural Halls Grant
Tokomaru Community Hall $12,000
Manakau Hall $6471.58
Mangahao (Mangaore) Hall $7183.28
Koputaroa Hall Society $4345.14
Total $30,000