Community Centre offers MSD services
Heartland aims to help rural people
The Waihi Community Resource Centre was recently awarded a Heartlands Service contract by the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) for Waihi and surrounding areas.
The centre is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides a range of social services and community development initiatives to meet the needs of the community.
Heartlands aims to ensure people living in rural and isolated communities have equitable access to government and community services. It provides a one-stop shop for people of all ages. Community members can access a range of government, notfor-profit and community services.
Through Heartlands, friendly, confidential face-to-face services offering support, advocacy, information and resources is available, as are computer access, printing, scanning and emailing facilities. interactive technology for online meetings and training - is also available.
Heartlands was first established under MSD in 2001, and currently, 40 Heartland sites exist across the country, with the programmes’ delivery handled by non-government agencies like The Waihi Community Resource Centre.
An Open Day celebration was held on Tuesday, December 5. Manager Jan Smeaton said the event was attended by multiple service providers and other interested parties.
“People enjoyed looking at the facilities, watching a slide show, hearing all about Heartlands and enjoying a morning tea and sausage sizzle.”
Waihi Community Resource Centre collaborates with services such as Diabetes Eye Screening, Senior Connect, Family Court Navigators and Baywide Community Law, providing access to these services within Waihi.
The centre already offers Youth Services, Social Workers, Counselling, Wha¯ nau Support, Strengthening Families and Family Harm Services.
i Heartlands is available Monday-thursday 8.30-5pm and Friday 8.30-3pm at the Waihi Community Resource Centre 4 Mueller St, Waihi. Alternatively, people can phone 07 863 7555 or email heartlands@wcrc.org.nz.