Community centres doing well

The number of people and groups using the Wellsford Community Centre has increased by well over 100% since Auckland Council appointed a special community advisor and coordinator, Rodney Local Board heard this month.

Lisa Hampe was taken on in early 2021 to coordinate bookings and boost hall usage, something which had been achieved with great success she said in an update to members.

“We’ve had some really great improvements and massively increased the number of people attending,” she said. “We really did need a coordinator.”

Hampe told the meeting that numbers using the community centre had grown from 5736 in the six months from March to August 2019 to 12,739 over the same period this year, an increase of 122%, while bookings were up by 125% from 146 to 329 and hours rose by 81% from 482 to 871.5.

Hampe said activities taking place at the centre included workshops, drama, music, physio, yoga, night markets, and church and school events.

Since March, Hampe has also been activation coordinator for the Mahurangi East Community Centre, working 20 hours a week for each. Although over a much shorter time frame, the figures for the Snells Beach facility are also up, showing increases in the number of people, bookings and hours used up by 88%, 44% and 74.5% respectively.

Hampe told Rodney Local Board that her role at both community centres would be better as a permanent position, rather than its current six-monthly contract basis, as it was something that was clearly needed.

Wellsford Board member Colin Smith agreed and thanked Hampe for the update.

“You’re doing a fantastic job, the community is in desperate need of what you do,” he said.

Info and bookings: www.wellsfordcommunity.co.nz and www.mecc.co.nz