An incredible 30,000 people visit Green Bay Community House (GBCH) every year, highlighting how vital the facility is to community life. With a varied programme of classes, groups and events, it’s no wonder the community house is so popular.
GBCH is a hive of activity every day. There’s something for all ages, including arts and crafts, dance, fitness, and much more.
‘We provide a hub for family, friendship, learning and sharing,’ declares Sara Mihaere, Operations and Project Manager.
The ever-popular school holiday programme is a hit among tamariki, offering a range of adventures and fun activities. From baking to sports, it’s an excellent way for kids to learn, play, and make new friends during their holidays.
Another regular fixture is a clothing exchange held in partnership with Hospice West Auckland. Pre-loved clothes are donated and swapped between participants with the gold coin entry fee donated to the Hospice. The community initiative is a great way to promote sustainability while supporting a fantastic local charity. And participants can pick up a whole new wardrobe.
GBCH also hosts a range of free community events throughout the year. The Easter egg hunt brought local families together, and a special event recently celebrated Matariki.
The community house is a registered charity. Sara says funding is always hard to come by, especially for unexpected extras.
Last year, GBCH faced a crisis when the bark in the children’s playground was washed away in the January floods. Special bark is an essential health and safety requirement, and without it, the playground was unusable. However, the cost of replacing the bark was a massive hurdle for a small community organisation. ‘Making the playground safe again was a huge expense,’ advises Sara.
GBCH applied to the Your West Support Fund for help. $9,996 was used to buy new playground bark and support various projects for the groups that use the community house. The playground is now up and running again, offering a safe environment for children.
According to Sara, over 120 people attend the term time playgroup weekly, and around 400 tamariki participate in the school holiday programme.
‘Thanks to the Your West Support Fund, the play area is buzzing again with children enjoying this special space,’ says Sara.
GBCH is located at 1 Barron Drive. Why not try something new? Check out the website for full details of the weekly programme. And follow on Facebook for the latest updates.
