The Thames region has been particularly hard hit with weather woes and ongoing roading network issues over the past 12 months and it’s times like this that pay testament to a community’s resilience and spirit. The Thames Community Centre stepped up operations during this period to offer community programmes and learning that are additional to their traditional offerings.
The Centre has been operating since 1992 and in their 30-plus years they have always been responsive to community needs. At the heart of the organisation lie the principles of ‘to learn, to connect and to share’ and they truly put these principles into action.
Centre Manager Jeff Whitfield says that while their major workstreams are their Driver Licence and associated Volunteer Placement programme, post cyclone Gabrielle they have initiated several new courses, including mindfulness, therapeutic drumming, technology, arts classes and a money matters budgeting service.
“Our driver licence programme offers free support to individuals who are undertaking various stages of their driver’s licence, including learners, restricted, defensive driving and full licence,” Jeff says.
The Centre pays for all costs associated with each of these stages and also provides mentors and a vehicle for learner-driver use. “In return we have an expectation that learners will give back to the community. Support for them to sit their licence is a gift from the community and in return we expect them to connect back and share. This is an important part of our culture and there is an expectation that they will give back an equivalent number of hours to our investment.”
The Centre’s Driver Licence and Volunteer Placement programme was recognised nationally last year and was awarded the Driving Change – Most Outstanding Community Driving Programme for their unique approach that focuses on recipients giving back time for their education rather than fees. This philosophy impressed the judges and set the Centre apart from other providers.
Volunteer placements are made across a wide range of Thames community organisations, including the SPCA, local schools, kohanga reo, the community garden and the Seagull Centre – the local recycling group.
Last year the Centre had about 100 drivers go through its programme, with each student giving back between 12 and 60 hours, dependent on their learning journey and the support they received.
“Often people give back their required hours and they find so much enjoyment in it that they then choose to play a longer-term role,” Jeff says. “Our current ‘Need Tech’ volunteer is a great example of this. The tutor was one of our learner drivers who now contributes several hours once a week to assist and help individuals needing tech assistance.”
In general, the other courses offered by the Community Centre are oversubscribed as residents look to build their wellbeing through art and other new learnings.
The Thames Community Centre was a 2023 recipient of an ACE Professional Development grant with the funds used to build capability with the 12 volunteers who are mentors on the driver training programme.
“The mentors provide one-on-one learning for those on a learner licence wanting to move to their restricted. We have use of a car which was donated by a local company, and we pair the mentors with learners. It was great that they were able to come together and connect and increase their skills and knowledge,” Jeff says.