Everyone loves a birthday celebration and Risingholme Community Centre (Risingholme Learning) is celebrating its 80th with a suite of events across the year to mark the special occasion. Risingholme’s beautiful historic premises built in 1864, are located in Opawa, Ōtautahi. Following decades as a private residence to a number of prominent local families, in 1943 the homestead was purchased and gifted to the people of Christchurch by philanthropist J. R. McKenzie for the “health, amusement and instruction of the public.” Local residents petitioned the council for the house to become a community centre for Opawa and surrounding suburbs and following a public meeting in 1944, the Risingholme Community Centre Incorporated Society was formed.
At the time of its opening, Risingholme was one of the first community centres in the country and quickly became known for the quality and diversity of its creative programmes funded through an arrangement with the Technical College. Over the next decades the Risingholme complex expanded with the construction of a hall/theatre and craft rooms. During these early years Risingholme featured a Young People’s Club, woodwork classes and bridge and garden groups, choral groups and craft classes such as woodwork and pottery. In 2004 the Centre became an independently funded tertiary provider with a direct funding arrangement with the Tertiary Education Commission. TEC funding changes for ACE Programmes in 2009 resulted in Risingholme taking over the management of Christchurch Girls’, Hornby and Shirley Boys’ High School’s ACE programmes.
The Adult Community Education programme has continued to flourish, now incorporating the former Burnside High School, Christchurch Girls’ High School and Shirley Boys’ High programmes as well as the Riccarton High School Adult and Community Education programme through collaborative working arrangements. Risingholme is also host to a large variety of independent community groups and activities.
According to Risingholme’s Community Liaison Coordinator Bojana Rimbovska, a variety of celebrations are planned during 2024 to mark the achievements of the past 80 years. Each event has its genesis in the core values of Risingholme including:
- Enjoyment People’s educational activities bring them joy
- Enhancing People’s lives are enriched
- Effortless People find it easy to connect and participate
- Tradition We respect our history as it is the foundation on which we stand our future.
During January/February a series of shared meals were hosted in the community hall in partnership with Share Kai and Kōrero, an initiative of InCommon, a campaign that encourages people to reach out across cultures and faiths through the “breaking of bread” to make Canterbury a place where everyone feels they belong.
Other events planned for the year ahead include supporting an internship through University of Canterbury’s PACE programme to digitise Risngholme’s archives and make them more accessible. UC’s PACE Internship is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme for students and the internship is an opportunity to extend the kaupapa of learning in the community and reflect on the rich history of Risingholme. In August there will be a “Have a Go” open day when Risingholme will offer taster sessions to help break down barriers for people wanting to test out new learning opportunities. In September they are again opening their doors to the community via a public art exhibition showcasing the creative range of the tutors and learners. The exhibition is a collaborative tutor-led initiative which provides valuable opportunities for tutors and learners to shine and connect to their wider community through their work. The year of celebrations will be brought to a close in October with a function to celebrate and acknowledge the people involved with Risingholme’s success and the unveiling of a series of panels designed to visually celebrate the history of this wonderful and longstanding institution.
Risingholme Director, Lynda Megson, says that the 80 year history of the entity is well worth celebrating “We have achieved so much during our lifetime and it is important that we all take the time to step back and acknowledge not just our history but also the work that goes on now to make our community a more resilient and better place to live”.