The Great Start Team

The challenge

The Taita community in Wellington’s Hutt Valley has set itself a goal of becoming ‘a strong, caring community that notices, celebrates and nurtures children’ – not through adding more provider-client services but by building connections and reciprocity in the community so that everyone helps each other.

The response

The process began with Barnardos staff knocking on a thousand doors to ask people in the community what they wanted. “Communities aren’t broken,” says Manager Karen Clifford, “but sometimes they need a breath of fresh air and, for those who are isolated or not heard, the chance to come forward, have their say, build connections and support each other.”

And coming forward they are, with projects like community gardens, a time bank, markets, playgroups, parent support, collaborative networks of community groups and advice for business start-ups all blossoming within the community.

“A great example is our local park,” says Karen. “Families didn’t go there because it was used for selling drugs and all the play equipment had been removed. Our kids went to the council to ask that the park be rebuilt – and the council was so impressed that the kids were asked to design it! Even the prisoners at Rimutaka got involved by creating carvings for us. It’s now a real centre for families, and our kids are so proud of themselves.”

How the Todd Foundation helped

Three years of funding for project coordination from the Todd Foundation means that “we can keep going and keep trying new things,” says Karen. “But,” she adds, “it’s more than that. What we’re doing here is different and brave and not everyone gets it. The Todd Foundation’s vote of confidence in our work was really important to us and the community.”

What they say about it

“It’s about being a good neighbour – or being part of a big family,” says solo mum Helen Hamilton. “I started out by providing volunteer child care while refugee parents took English classes, and now I’m part of organising the time bank. People don’t want handouts; they have their pride. This way everyone knows that what they do has value and everyone can contribute. And I’m modelling to my daughters that it’s OK to ask for help and to offer it – to be an active part of the community.”