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At the end of last year, things were looking bleak for the future of the Whangaparāoa Community Hub, as it was unable to source funding to cover rent (HM December 18).
However, the New Year has brought better news: the hub is to continue its services after relocating to Link Crescent.
The hub opened two years ago as a two-year pilot, offering a space for community groups and agencies to provide services and hold events on the peninsula.
Rent for its premises, at 707 Whangaparāoa Road, cost the Whangaparāoa Hub Community Trust around $35,000 annually.
Whangaparāoa Community Hub manager, Sara Mason, says with its lease due to expire, and multiple declined funding applications, a lucky connection was made with the Agora Community Trust which offers services from a base at 5 Link Crescent (opposite Hoyts Cinema).
She says the Agora Trust has offered to share its space with the Community Hub.
In return, the money that the hub brings in from the groups that rent its space will be passed on to the Agora Community Trust.
Sara says the arrangement is a friendly agreement, not a formal sublease, as both groups want to see how sharing the space works out.
The hub moves to 5 Link Crescent at the beginning of next month, and will hold a “hub-warming” open day on Saturday, April 4, 11.30am-1.30pm.
In the meantime, Sara says the Trust is lobbying for the building of a purpose built community facility for Whangaparaoa, in particular through making a submission to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board’s three-year plan (HM March 4).
“We are encouraging all locals to get involved in the three-year plan process, as it’s a chance to have a say about what you’d like to see in the community,” Sara says.
For more info on the local board plan, and to submit ideas, visit akhaveyoursay.co.nz/lovelocal before the end of this month.
Update: Hub warming event cancelled
An event celebrating the shift of Whangaparāoa Community Hub to 5 Link Crescent has been cancelled. The event was to have taken place on Saturday, April 4 (HM March 18).
