Walking backwards into the future
It is an exciting time for our agency.
A year ago we agreed to establish a regional community development agency and today we have advertised for our first agency trustees.
We thought this was a good time to provide a quick up fly over of our work over the last year and to point you to our website, if you had not already seen it.
Our establishment group and working groups.
From early 2023, an interim steering group was set up to facilitate community and sector engagement in establishing a community development agency. Their work culminated in getting buy in and direction for the establishment of the agency including significant community and for-purpose organisation engagement in May 2023.
In August 2023, an establishment group was formed from people who put their hands up to be involved including people from local and central government, Iwi, for-purpose organisations and groups, business as well as individuals. The establishment group meets monthly to guide the establishment of the agency and to support the work of the working groups.
Building our relationship with Iwi
In recognistion of the importance of sustainable, intergenerational, and authentic,decision-making and partnership between iwi and other stakeholders, our agency governance model and foundational Kawenata have been co-created with Iwi. The Kawenata and will form the foundation of our work and inform how we are in relationship with iwi, for-purpose organisations and groups and all stakeholders. This is a promising step towards embracing biculturalism, enhancing community engagement, and fostering the principles enshrined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
For-purpose sector engagement
The need for this agency was identified in the significant community engagement process of creating the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy (30,000 people reached, over 1000 across 25 live events); through a feasibility study done in 2021; Te Tauihu Strengthening the Sector survey - vast majority of the respondents to the survey think the agency would add value (72% in 2022 and 86% 2023) and the value of an agency was reiterated at community engagement hui held in May and June 2023 and in February-March 2024.
We have met with many for-purpose organsiations including connecting with 120 of the respondents to the Strengthening the Sector survey who indicated they would be interested in being part of further conversations on community collaboration and setting up an agency.
During February and March 2024, nine meetings were held across the region (three in Marlborough, four in Tasman and two in Nelson) with 41 for-purpose organisations and groups. The purpose of these conversations was to share the progress being made in setting up our agency and to explore how the agency might add value to the for-purpose sector.
Key themes emerged from the community conversations
A perfect storm
Perfect storm happening in the for-purpose sector – there is less funding, cost of living is impacting, and we are seeing increased need, there is increasing complexity in running a for-purpose organisation and group, a decrease/shift in volunteerism (impacting delivery and succession planning), a government with new priorities and an increasing urgency for doing things differently.
“our agency needs to support community groups to weather a perfect storm that is brewing in the for-purpose sector.”
“Many organisations are at risk because volunteerism has changed, funding processes are disruptive and resource intensive. We need to do things differently together to find ways to adapt and thrive despite these issues and trends.”
There is tangible energy for change and doing this together.
If for-purpose organisations and groups were connected, we could provide the solutions to many or most of the top issues raised. Together we have the solutions and resources to get this done, just need coordination and support to achieve that.
“A measure of the success of this is that we all go from describing this as the agency to our agency, that we all see it as ours, collective ownership, contribution and accountability.”
“Right time for transformative change for our sector and region.”
“Share information, share experience, share surplus resources.”
For purpose organisations and groups see value in our agency to:
Support for-purpose organisations and groups to look up and around, pool and/or share resources, to connect.
Facilitate sector strategic direction setting and support collective impact, unlock a collective mindset, dilute competition, and support workable iwi engagement.
Advocate and influence, consider alternative funding models, connect funding and impact, build collective bargaining power, support sustainable volunteerism.
Make it easier to work in the sector by providing a ‘first stop’ space, for-purpose sector workforce development and, mapping the sector.
Create sector intelligence.
Support action in partnership with for-purpose organisations and groups.
Setting up legal and operational structures
The establishment of our agency has been supported by Community Action Nelson as we set up our trust. We are drafting the trust deed and board charter and recruiting our first trustees.
The formation of the trust and appointment of our first Board of trustees will herald a significant change of guard and the official launch of our agency.
Our work programme for the next 12 months will respond to the Strengthening the Sector Survey and information gathered in the community for-purpose organisations and groups hui held earlier this year. Our priorities include mapping the for-purpose sector across Te Tauihu, facilitating connection and collaboration, and scoping strategy to address workforce capability and capacity challenges. In addition, we will facilitate workshops to support capability development including governance, leadership, resilience, financial stability and working for impact.
Watch this space… AI Workshop and Managing Transitions Workshops are being set up for July.