Coincidentally, Lotto will also be celebrating its 21st later this year!
The Tahunanui Community Centre on Muritai Street is created by families for families, and is a place for parents and children to meet friends – and get support from a number of services on offer.
The centre has a community of 400 families from all demographics and neighbouring areas.
The centre currently runs a playgroup, a licensed pre-school, after-school care, school holiday programmes, runs parenting courses and a “friends and neighbours” group for over-60s, but plans for the future include budget cooking classes and a social worker, says outgoing coordinator Gill Bartlett.
“I think there’s way more pressure on parents to get it right. The centre is so well placed to provide services but we can’t do that on our own, so we need to work together with other people in the community,” she says.
The centre receives funding from the Lottery Grants Board, plus community trusts and the Government, and relies on helping hands from volunteers.
“People who have come here, it has meant so much to them, so they’ve wanted to give something back,” says Ms Bartlett.
Her successor Julie Townsend is one of those people.
“I was new to Nelson and I came along with my two children and that’s where I made great connections,” says Ms Townsend.
