Stronger rural look to Neighbourhood Support
‘‘I think people feel safer when they know who their neighbours are.’’
Betty-Ann Smart
South Canterbury Neighbourhood Support will expand its rural arm with new groups earmarked for Kimbell, Albury and Burkes Pass.
South Canterbury Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Betty-Ann Smart confirmed the groups were in the development stage with a proposal for them to be formalised in the next couple of months.
The announcement comes as nationally, Neighbourhood Support has reported a spike in
interest during lockdown, with inquiries increasing by 138 per cent since March.
With the surge of new groups, it was more important than ever for the service to keep the momentum going, Neighbourhood Support chief executive Tess Casey said early this week.
Smart echoed those words, saying interest had also increased in South Canterbury during lockdown.
While the increase was not as much as some other centres, there was a sense of positivity, specifically in the Mackenzie, she said.
Across South Canterbury, there were 350 volunteers and 3497 membership homes in May 2020 compared with 324 volunteers and 3409 membership homes in May 2019, Smart said.
‘‘Since I started in the role in April 2019 we have had quite an increase in membership and volunteers.
‘‘We have expanded into new areas including Cave and Omarama.
‘‘We are in the development stages of setting up groups in Kimbell, Albury and Burkes Pass, it’s really exciting.’’
Smart said she was working with Heartlands centres across Mackenzie in an effort to ‘‘bridge the gaps’’.
‘‘We have members in Twizel and Tekapo and are also strengthening membership in those communities.
‘‘Fairlie also has a very active group.
‘‘The areas that Neighbourhood Support covers across New Zealand are diverse but here in South Canterbury it is very rural which makes it unique.
‘‘I think people feel safer when they know who their neighbours are.’’