By SARA co-chair Renee Walker
Visibly displaying their confidence in the new shape and future direction of the St Albans Residents’ Association (SARA), the CCC and Shirley-Papanui Community Board have granted the Association $25,000 under the Strengthening Communities programme.
More importantly, both groups have indicated a strong desire to work collaboratively with SARA to help drive positive rebuilding and community strengthening within St Albans.
“Our community has changed substantially over the last five years, and this grant will give us the opportunity to refocus our efforts in the right areas,” said SARA Co-Chair Renée Walker.
“It will enable us to employ a part-time community facilitator who will be instrumental in driving the implementation of the St Albans Strategy – a series of exciting, community-run developments planned for the area”.
See the 20 Projects elsewhere on this website for more information or download from this link
With the original Community Centre sadly destroyed in the earthquakes, SARA has operated on a less physically visible scale over the last five years. Relying on grants and donations from trusts and companies including the Canterbury Community Trust, Vodafone and IAG, as well as proceeds from the barbecue trailer and more recently, the transitional community centre, SARA has worked hard to keep the community voice heard.
Recent funding has enabled SARA to employ a part-time manager for the transitional centre, who has driven a substantial subsequent increase in its use.
“The Strengthening Communities grant comes at a perfect time,” says Walker.
“Emma Twaddell (SARA Co-Chair) has worked tirelessly to ensure the voice of St Albans residents has been heard over the last five years.
“Without physical premises, or paid support, this was challenging but the grant tops off a period of re-generation for SARA. We have regained management of the transitional centre. We are in a position to employ paid staff, and we’re ready to start the public discussion about who we are, and what we want to be.
“This is our opportunity to create a Community that is even stronger, more connected and more sustainable than it was before (and it was great then!), with the Community Centre at the heart of it”.
The SARA AGM will be held in the Transitional Community Centre at 7pm on Tuesday, September 8. If you would like to be part of the next part of the St Albans story come along and get involved.
