What is in a community hub?
“A community hub is a building or space that is: open and accessible to the local community & providing services that the local community wants and needs.”
https://localtrust.org.uk/news-and-stories/blog/community-hubs-the-importance-of-developing-a-sustainable-business-model/
What is the role of a community hub?
“Community hubs are opportunities to create lively spaces and deliver often missing critical social infrastructure…When developed correctly, they can serve as a place to bring people and ideas together under one roof…The reach of these community hubs extends beyond the structural walls of the buildings; they can reconnect people with their neighborhoods by creating spaces that integrate social and functional needs.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/02/02/developing-community-hubs-to-drive-purpose-and-profit/
‘Shirley Road Central’ Group & ‘Where is our Community Centre?’ Petition
– Why ‘Shirley Road Central’? 10 Shirley Road is central to connecting communities in Shirley, Dallington, Richmond, Edgeware, St Albans & Mairehau.
Why the suburbs of Shirley, Dallington, Richmond, Edgeware, St Albans & Mairehau? When you draw a 2km radius from 10 Shirley Road, these are the suburbs included in this area.
https://www.shirleyroadcentral.nz/shirley-road-central/
– “Our communities lost our well used and well loved community centre at 10 Shirley Rd, following the February 2011 earthquake. We need a new community facility to serve the wider communities of North Richmond, Shirley, Mairehau, Edgeware and St Albans east of Cranford Street. We the undersigned, request that Christchurch City Council work with us to rebuild our beloved community centre as soon as possible.”
‘Shirley Road Central’ group members collected signatures/comments through an online ‘Change’ petition & in person via door knocking, outside local schools & onsite at ‘activation’ events like ‘Skip Day’, held at 10 Shirley Road.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/where-is-our-community-centre-petition/
– “The library at the Palms is outdated and too small, it lacks meeting spaces and is not central to all local schools and bus routes.
Our communities are ethnically and socially diverse. We have areas of social deprivation, and others of relative well being. We have increased social housing, and increased high density, infill housing. As our population grows, the demand for community facilities grows also. Church facilities can be a barrier for some of our secular community members. School facilities are often limited in the times they are available. Private venues are too expensive.
https://www.shirleyroadcentral.nz/the-future-for-shirley-road-central/
– ‘Pop up’ activities to ‘activate’ the 10 Shirley Road site have had little success. Events like ‘Skip Day’ & the ‘Car Boot Sale’ organised by the ‘Shirley Road Central’ group, required many people to be involved in the planning & running of these events. More hours were invested in planning/meetings, than the actual duration of the event. Events had to be postponed or cancelled due to the weather.
– “Today at the Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan submissions hearing, Shirley Road Central Incorporated, presented their verbal submission advocating for a new civic centre to be built on 10 Shirley Road.
The ‘Where is Our Community Centre?’ petition was presented to Council, with over 1,200 signatures.
Letters of Support from Poto Williams, MP for Christchurch East & Duncan Webb Labour MP for Christchurch Central.”
‘Shirley Road Central’ group, 12th May 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhAT6iATaE8
Letters of Support from Local Christchurch MPs
– “The Richmond, Avonside, Dallington and Shirley Locals have a brilliant concept in their application to provide a Library and Education space and this new Community Centre could also provide a range of opportunities for the locals…A space for after school activities and holiday programmes and possibly a venue for hire.
The Community Centre could also house NGO’s as well as drop in sessions for local organisations who could provide advice and assistance to those in need including Wellbeing/Health and Youth Clinics.
A Community Centre is a place where you are bringing everyone in the community together of all ethnicities and therefore I fully support this application.”
Hon Poto Williams, Member of Parliament for Christchurch East
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/poto-williams-support-letter/
– “I write in support of further exploration of the community centre concept proposed for 10 Shirley Road.
While this is not in my electorate the area serviced by such a centre would cross into Christchurch Central and benefit my constituents.
I have read the support letter provided by MP for Christchurch East, Hon Poto Williams, and I am happy to add my support to her views and encourage council to consider exploring the idea further, such as commissioning a feasibility study for full review including the future of the current Shirley Library.”
Dr Duncan Webb, Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/duncan-webb-support-letter/
Richmond Residents & Business Association/We are Richmond
– “The current library is situated inside the Burwood/Pegasus ward outside of Innes and Central although it is seen as a Shirley Richmond Amenity.
A large sector of our community wants this relocated to 10 Shirley Road as a true public non partisan community facility we do not want nor need another community organisation or church based facility.
We need a place that ALL people feel free to come to and be part of and a library/service centre is the best example of this.
Our community needs the type of facility that Halswell and Sumner do more than they do, but yet we are left with a building shoved in the back of a mall requiring a full time security guard, not delivering the services other libraries do because they do not have the space.
We as a community are fully prepared to take what money there currently is and fund raise for more money to situ a modern, exciting, community focused facility at 10 Shirley Road to replace the number of amenities that we have been stripped of.
A citizen lead hub facility incorporating the library and service centre would support/inform/direct people out into the activities in the community and current community lead facilities (Avebury, Richmond Community Garden, Delta, Shirley Trust, etc etc).
We need to get people out of their houses and engaging with others in the community.”
Hayley Guglietta (Email from Hayley to Ali Jones, former Papanui-Innes Community Board Chairperson, 4th April 2019)
– “There is much debate about the need for a Community Centre as we knew it pre-earthquake. Some of the services provided at the old centre have been absorbed by other agencies and do not need replicating at a new amenity. There have been reviews and reports presented to Council discussing the amenities we have and those we need. Although these have not been released to the general public as yet, one would assume that these include social, recreation, pastoral care elements and take into account the composition of the population.
There is a groundswell of support for a (new) library to provide an amenity that would serve the Richmond/Shirley communities. Libraries have changed markedly in the last decade and now provide opportunities for interaction amongst age groups, ethnic groups, interest groups, etc through the way they are designed and staffed. While they still address their original core function of providing information and leisure reading opportunities, modern technological developments have had a major impact on how libraries achieve that core function.
Perhaps it is time for the Richmond Community to come together and discuss the needs and determine some action so that, eventually, we get an amenity at 10 Shirley Road which recognizes the past but focuses on our needs in the future.”
David Duffy (current Chairperson), 22nd May 2019
https://wearerichmond.co.nz/rrba/what-to-do-with-10-shirley-road/
Shirley Village Project
– Shirley Village Project Feasibility Report and Implementation Plan
5th February 2018, Steve Jones-Poole, Shirley Community Trust
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Shirley-Village-Project-Feasibility-Report.pdf
– Youth Audit 10 Shirley Road
“10 Shirley Road performed averagely in the Youth Friendly Spaces Audit, scoring a total of 42% and received a poor Net Promoter Score of -37.5.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/youth-audit-10-shirley-road/
– Youth Audit Shirley Library
“The Shirley Library performed below average, in the Youth Friendly Spaces Audit, scoring a total of 64.5% and producing a Net Promoter Score of -50.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/youth-audit-shirley-library/
– Youth Audit MacFarlane Park
“The MacFarlane Park Basketball Court performed averagely in the Youth Friendly Spaces Audit, scoring a total of 59.5% and producing a Net Promoter Score of 0.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/youth-audit-macfarlane-park/
– “Many of the issues identified in the Youth Audits for Shirley Library & 10 Shirley Road, could be addressed by creating a new central ‘Community Hub’ at the Shirley Community Reserve, that would complement the existing community facilities in MacFarlane Park & surrounding suburbs.
More youth living in the suburbs surrounding Shirley Road: Shirley, Dallington, Richmond, Edgeware, St Albans & Mairehau, could benefit from the positive aspects of the 10 Shirley Road site highlighted in the Youth Audit above.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/shirley-youth-audits/
– Community Led Development Plan for Shirley
“The needs and wishes of Shirley residents have been recorded in various surveys and events over many years. We’ve looked back as far as 2000 at existing reports, surveyed residents in 2018 and 2021, and collected feedback at various community events in 2022 and 2023.”
https://www.shirleyvillage.org/community-plan
CCC Citizen Hub Strategy
– “We currently operate a very “bricks and mortar” service arrangement, where different Council services have developed stand-alone service locations and approaches (often all in the same neighbourhood).
– The review has found that this siloed legacy service model is no longer fit for purpose. Customers increasingly expect joined up services, easy one-stop transactions, and channel choice in how they engage with us.
– We are proposing a shift to integrated service delivery arrangements whereby Council physical services are grouped together in convenient locations for citizens to access – a Citizen Hub with no wrong doors.
– A set of design principles have been developed to guide improvement opportunities and the future state model. An implementation approach whereby council libraries will form the base for integrated, multi-discipline citizen hubs is proposed.”
– Libraries: Shirley (Burwood Ward, 5 Council libraries: Parklands, New Brighton, Aranui, Shirley, Linwood in the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board area)
Service Desks: Shirley (Burwood Ward, 2 Council service centres: Shirley, Linwood in the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board area)
Governance Services: Shirley (Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board)
(Location map for Christchurch City Council Libraries, Service Desks and Recreation and Sports Centres, Page 19)
– There are 3 Christchurch City Council services (Library, Service Centre & Governance) co located in the Shirley Library and Service Centre building, located in The Palms carpark.
But there is no suburban sized Library or Service Centre in the entire Innes Ward.
(Location map for Christchurch City Council Libraries, Service Desks and Recreation and Sports Centres, Page 19)
– The Shirley Community Centre, has not been ‘replaced’, not even ‘like for like’.
In 2015 when this Strategy was written, why wasn’t a new integrated service delivery Citizen Hub option considered, at 10 Shirley Road, Shirley Community Reserve, site of the former Shirley Community Centre?
21: Shirley Community Centre, Replace. Section 38 (claim insured value).
26: Shirley Library, Cosmetic repairs.
Christchurch City Council Facilities Rebuild Plan – Tranche 1
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2022/06/SACRC_20220601_MAT_7539.PDF#PAGE=25
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/ccc-citizen-hub-strategy/
Shirley Community Facility Feasibility Study
“As a result of the 2011 earthquakes there was a community groundswell to reinstate the destroyed Shirley Community Centre.
The Community Facility at 10 Shirley Road was a significant provider of a range of community activity and had been for a long time.
The way it did this and the range of groups based there was a credit to community development and initiative in the area.
On this basis, there was a logic in considering a replacement and updated facility.”
“- Table 4. Deprivation by Area Units (6 and above): Here we see Richmond South, Edgeware and Shirley have higher levels of deprivation (6 and above) as a percentage of total population, much higher than the Christchurch Average.
– Location of Provision: There is no direct provision of Council facilities within the defined facility catchment area (Shirley, Richmond, Edgeware and Mairehau) and much of what is provided is Church based, with the area being home to a number of strong Church based Trusts. There does appear to be a gap in the area identified on the boundary of Shirley and Richmond.
– 6.4.1 Asset data Across Council Owned Community Facilities: This suggests current provision is lower than the city-wide average in terms of community facilities.
– 6.4.2 Community Provision (Non-Council): There seems a gap (or at least less provision) of non-Church community space across the Community Board, especially as we see the current range of facilities available is split between ‘Community’ and ‘Church-based’ Trusts.
– 7.3 Community Needs Analysis for Richmond: Lack of low cost, creative and fun activities for after-school and school holidays. Mental health needs (adults through to children identified as a gap). Need for improved playground facilities across Richmond targeting pre-schoolers and small children.
– 8. Need and Gap Assessment, Summary of Need: With an aging population, it is important to also consider what has been lost that would be of value to older adults.
Secular Bumping space (for casual interactions and cross-over between activities and areas) for adults like that provided in libraries.
– 9. Discussion, Fit with Christchurch City Council Network Plan: Providing hubs and focal points are important network plan outcomes.
– Potential Activity for the 10 Shirley Road Site: With the provision of the correct infrastructure this site could be reborn as a new interpretation of a contemporary community centre. The location of 10 Shirley Road is perfect for this as there is no other Trust close by and yet the location is important to Shirley, Edgeware, Mairehau and Richmond.
– 10. Options: An important consideration in this options analysis is how to achieve a sustainable outcome, not just for the community but for Council. One other factor is how to ensure any provision aligns with what is currently and likely to happen in the foreseeable future.
– Table 9. Governance options toward increased activation of 10 Shirley Road: Unfavourable treatment of one Trust over others, Not one Trust that spans these two neighbourhoods, Would be either Church or Non-church aligned, That trust would not necessarily hold the vision (Community Plan) for the whole area.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/shirley-community-facility-feasibility-study/
Local Government New Zealand
“How much is your library worth to your community?
We’re delighted to share with you new research we’ve undertaken with FrankAdvice on the value of public libraries. The report explores both the role of libraries as community hubs, their value as a vehicle for public service delivery, and their contribution to community wellbeing.
Public libraries are vibrant community hubs that enhance community wellbeing and social cohesion.
They’re also important places where local government and central government can deliver key local services – ones specific to their communities needs and wants.
The findings paint a clear picture that councils need more support to deliver the services that central government increasingly relies on public libraries to provide. The report also showcases great examples of services libraries across the motu provide to enhance community wellbeing.
We’ll encourage councils to consider how they can enable and resource public libraries to evolve their services and better enhance community wellbeing.
And we’ll use this research to engage with the Government on ways it can better support public libraries to deliver value to communities.”
https://www.lgnz.co.nz/news-and-media/2023-media-releases/research-reveals-libraries-are-huge-contributors-to-community-wellbeing/
Summary: https://www.lgnz.co.nz/assets/PDFs/Value-of-public-libraries-executive-summary.pdf
Research Paper: https://www.lgnz.co.nz/assets/FFLG/Frank-Advice-Libraries-as-a-vehicle-for-service-delivery.pdf?vid=5