Centrally located in Memorial Park, Titirangi Community House is much-loved by locals. The registered charity provides an affordable space for community groups and residents to come together. And it also runs a variety of workshops, programmes and events that connect the community.
According to Titirangi Community House manager Bev Mossop, building strong neighbourhoods is more important than ever. ‘We provide a space for the community to make and maintain friendships and enjoy social, leisure times and hobbies in a friendly environment,’ she says.
Bev reports that up to 1,500 Titirangi locals come through the doors every month. And that’s no surprise given the packed programme of activities and events that’s available.
There’s something for everyone, including yoga, children’s and adults’ art or music classes, traditional Māori healing and first aid training. The weekly programme is constantly changing in response to the needs of the diverse Titirangi community. And classes in Tai Chi and Bollywood dancing are about to be launched this term.
Titirangi Community House also runs a hugely popular school holiday programme. The programme has been up and running for several years, providing a lifeline for parents. From cooking to rock climbing, children have a blast with an exciting selection of fun adventures.
As with many charitable organisations, Covid has had a massive impact on the community house. The doors were shut for long periods during the lockdown, and social distancing rules also hit hard.
‘There was a considerable reduction in our income,’ explains Bev. ‘We lost many of our regular hire groups. And we also missed out with social distancing rules as room capacity decreased,’ she adds.
During the height of the Covid pandemic, things were looking bleak for Titirangi Community House. However, applying to the 2022 Your West Support Fund made all the difference. The community house used the $5,000 funding to support its operating costs. The money helped pay the bills when the bank balance was running low.
‘The Your West Support Fund helped us to keep going during those difficult times,’ declares Bev.
Twelve months on, and it’s a different story. Bev says that after a slow rebuild, there’s been a massive increase in group bookings. The future now looks much brighter as Titirangi Community House is back to being a thriving community hub.
