The Background

The Waimate District Resource Trust has been servicing & supporting the Waimate Community for 25 years and is an integral part of the Waimate Community.

As our community moves more and more online we recognise the need to deliver information in a different way.  In 2019 we identified a project that could be of great benefit for the Waimate community which would empower people by giving online access to much of the information which we maintain, collate and give out to our clients.

With a base document called the Information Kit for Families – produce by Jim Anderton in 2008 we could see how an up to date version of this could be incredibly valuable for our community – especially if it was available online. 

One of the biggest issues identified in our 2018 Waimate Matters Community Survey was that people do not know what help and support is available to them in Waimate or where to go. We began looking at ways that we could provide this information – in an accessible and easy to manage way. 

Originally we looked at doing a print and online version. However, we had concerns about being able to keep printed information current, and the cost of printing. So we decided that we would focus on online only knowing that we can update it at anytime and therefore the information would always be current.

Currently Community Link maintains a database of all Waimate Clubs & Organisations, Social Services, District Halls, Schools & Kindergartens. We review this data annually and offer printed versions to the community for free whenever they want. This is also used by the local information centre for New Residents Packs. 

The concept for the Community Resource Kit was to develop a waimatecommunityinfo.org website and build a comprehensive and searchable website tool which is split into several areas:

The Waimate Community Resource Kit will be a one stop shop for information – providing links out to other providers and agencies where possible (not reinventing the wheel) as well as our own localised content. 

Stage One:

• To employ a suitably skilled person to undertake the technical development of the core website

• Update the current community link database using existing staff resources

• Map out the website and plan workflow

• Stage One was supported with funding from the AD Hally Trust

Stage Two:

• Implement a staged approach to the development of the site – developing each section as the data is gathered and loaded onto the online platform.

• Consult with community partners, service providers and stakeholders to ensure we are maximising the site to cover a diverse range of community needs. 

• Develop a Clubs & Organisations section so that every club has the opportunity to have their own page within the waimatecommunityinfo website – or can link out to an existing page if they have one.

Stage Three:

• Maintain the waimatecommunity.org.nz website using Community Link staff on a ongoing basis with updates to every section at least annually. It is anticipated that this will involved 3-5 hours per week of staff time. 

Future Plans:

• Look at the feasibility of creating an app to sit alongside the website to encourage use and uptake in our community. 

• Survey community to assess effectiveness and uptake of the site and identify improvements that can be made. 

• Once this resource is developed we will make the structure and process available to other agencies throughout South Canterbury to develop their own localised version of the Community Resource Kit.