Exciting opportunity to join a vibrant community office space at the Halswell Community Hub

Halswell Community Hub are looking for local businesses, organisations or groups to join us in our Community Office Space.

Halswell Community Hub has been operating for nearly 4 years in what was the Old Halswell Library and is now a thriving community space used by many many groups and organisations. It is a great place to work and a great place to connect.

We are in a great location on the junction of Halswell Road and Sparks Road with off street car parking and everything you need on your doorstep.

Due to some recent changes we now have office space available for the right person, group or organisation.

If you are community minded, keen to connect with local people and groups or are looking for a place to work from, get in touch.

We have a space with 2 desks that would be ideal for either a small organisation with 2 people or for 2 people working individually. 

With approximately 11.5m2 there is plenty of space for storage whether that be filing cabinets or small cupboards.

Included in the price is your Power; Unlimited Internet; Use of communal facilities (toilets, kitchen) and Use of our interview room (shared between tenants so fair use applies)

Contact Kate or Keri at halswellhub@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a viewing 😊

 

Things YOU can do to Help slow the spread of Covid 19

1) Stay home if you are feeling unwell

2) Phone Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to get information about what to do if you think you have Covid 19 
Whatever you do, do NOT just head for the hospital or your local doctor. 

3) Keep 1-2 metres physical distance between you and others
No hugging hongi or shaking hands - use your imagination and do something different!



4) Be a Phone Buddy
Offer to help a neighbour as a phone buddy, particularly if they live alone.  If you live alone, then find two others and get yourself into a team of three, so that you can keep an eye on each other.  Ring or text each other every day, preferably at the same time.  If someone in your group is sick then ring them twice a day.  

Make a plan together about what you will do if someone gets sick and needs help.  Think about  what you will do if they don't answer the phone.   Think about who you will call, or whether you will knock on their door or window.  (if you do go round please remember to keep a good distance from each other.
GET STARTED ON THIS RIGHT NOW – it is a great practice, even if there is no pandemic.

5) Wash your Hands Often
Wash your hands for 20 -30 seconds after you’ve touched shared surfaces, especially before eating, and avoid touching your face. This Corona virus is spread in tiny droplets on that land on surfaces, which we may inadvertently touch. Then, when we touch our mouth, nose, or eyes, we can infect ourselves. Dry your hands well when you are done.

6) Wipe surfaces of all descriptions often
Keep surfaces that you are touching as clean as you can.  Wipe down handles, toilet flushers, etc with some bleach – diluted in water.  

7) Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette. 
 Cover your mouth with your forearm or the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze unexpectedly.  Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth completely, and dispose of a tissue after one use.

8) Try not to touch public surfaces with your fingers; get creative! 

Where possible, use knuckles rather than finger tips (e.g., for lift buttons, light switches, etc.). Open doors with your hips rather than your hands. You may use your elbows to open door handles, if it’s an option. Use a sleeve to open a doorknob if needed.

9) Be kind and give

  Being kind is a type of giving.  Thank people who help you, give people compliments, encourage those around you, SMILE, say hello, give people a ring to keep in touch.  Share stuff, if you can. Think of everything you do to limit the spread or Covid 19 as something you are giving to others. There are many ways for you to get out there and GIVE without putting yourself at risk.

10) Keep yourself well
Look after your general physical health.

• Eat well including lots fruit and vegetables, 
• Get plenty of sleep, 
• Keep active - Get out for walks or bike rides, and enjoy being out of doors. Dance or find some classes on YouTube   
• Get plenty of fresh air.
• Get some time with the sun on your skin - to help keep your vitamin D levels up

11) Look after your Mental Health 
This page provides some links to online resources and a bit of a summary that might help you look after your mental health.  Keeping your equanimity is important for you and for those around you and there are ways to help do that even in times of stress and change.

Standing up to Racism

The events of last month have really highlighted the amount of racism that goes on in our communities around New Zealand. It's up to all of us to stand up to racism or any kind of “ism.” This is where people use ignorant stereotypes to make slurs against another human being – sexism is another example and comments made on the basis of religion are another example). These slurs more often happen when we can see differences between ourselves and others – perhaps in the way they dress, look or the colour of their skin. If we do not make a stand against this kind of abuse then that makes people think it's alright. This is why we need everyone to challenge it when it happens.

This article is adapted from https://www.thatsus.co.nz where you can find a range of resources to help you deal with racism (or other “isms” for that matter) when you come across it.

Before anything else, we are human beings and as human beings, our differences are much smaller than the things that we have in common. We all, we all experience joy love and sadness, and we all suffer sickness and old age and actually mostly we value very similar things (albeit that we might show that in slightly different ways). As human beings, we are also often driven by fear – something that often goes unacknowledged and which can shape our everyday encounters with others. Racist behaviour is often driven by fear particularly when we fail to recognise these similarities.

Racist or discriminatory comments or actions can occur at any time — it's good to be prepared before the situation happens so you know to deal with it. Of course, it's not always easy standing up for what you think is right. It's takes courage, but here are some tips that might help you.

What you decide to say or do will depend on the situation. You should never put yourself at risk but there are lots of actions you can take that don’t involve confrontation. Even a simple gesture can be powerful and shows the person on the receiving end of the behaviour that they’re not alone.

If you see someone abusing another person, there are three actions that can help;

1. Support the victim,

Try to support the person being attacked. It might just be as simple as going up to them and asking them if they are OK. Ignore the attacker. Make sure the victim knows she or he is not alone. Talk to them, sit with them or walk with them to provide support. They’ll be feeling a range of emotions – fear, anger, embarrassment – make them feel better by knowing they’re not alone. Don’t be a bystander.

2.  Record what is happening

If you can, record the attack on a phone.

3. Report the incident

Finally, report the attack to authorities. Call the Police. Alert the Bus Driver or talk to someone in charge. Don’t just let it slide.

By doing these three actions we can make sure anyone who attacks someone else is held to account and the victim doesn't feel alone.

THE HALSWELL SHARING SHACK

After many months of dreaming, the Halswell Sharing Shack is finally a reality, thanks heaps to Dave Glassenbury who donated time and materials and built it. 

The Sharing Shack arrived on site at the Halswell Community Hub, 381 Halswell Road on Sunday 9th September. Within 48 hours many items had been donated and collected and a huge amount of food has been shared since then. 

The aim of the shack is to reduce waste and help each other by sharing resources. It’s a great way for gardeners to share their excess produce and to share vege when you have a glut. 

All food items welcome, including vegetable seeds and seedlings. Share what you can and take what you need. The Sharing Shack is for everyone!

Make the Community You Want to See!

Each of us really can make a difference, and we do it most effectively when we join others to make that change.

Sports clubs shape our kids and our Saturdays, helping us all to see the value of teamwork, respect and play.  A huge number of churches across the city provide support and activities for a wide range of different age and gender groups.   We see people getting out there to help with the mother of all clean ups, or to plant and maintain plantings in local parks and around local waterways.  Residents Associations keep an eye on Council activities and plans and provide comment on how those plans will affect their communities.

Working in groups makes it easier to stay in the game, to develop a sound argument for changes, attracts the attention of the news media, and helps Councils and other authorities to know where to get feedback and gives them help to consult with people in the group.  Without these groups it is actually harder for Council to see clear themes, needs and perspectives.  Likewise, councillors need support from their communities to debate issues in the Council Chamber.  It is very hard for them to defend nebulous causes that are hard for their colleagues to see. 

A recent example was the the Mother of All Clean-ups happened again this year and huge amounts of rubbish were removed from the Avon and Heathcote Rivers, making them a whole lot healthier and nicer places to be.  This was the result of many local groups working together to make a whole lot happen on one day.  Likewise, many of the things that are happening in our city are the result of a lot of work by communities for communities.  Safer streets, safer communities, better cycling facilities, the presence of green space,  community hubs, plunket, playcentre, youth groups, zero waste initiatives are all examples of what communities achieve and that benefit all of us.  All of this only happen thanks to the people that volunteer their energy and passion. 

Communities change things in all sorts of different ways around our city and our local areas.  We have a huge range of wonderful community groups in Christchurch and they need YOUR support.  Get out there, and get involved in a community that interests you and see how you can help to make the community you want to see.