Support and connection

North Taranaki Neighbourhood Support aims to create safe, connected and resilient communities. The organisation provides support to people made vulnerable through crime. 
 
“When you have had something happen in your home, it can be really difficult to overcome. Our team works together with our partner agencies to offer support, provide information and to prevent re-victimisation to those at risk in our community,” Janette Denson, Office Coordinator, said.
 
“Our biggest challenge has been the Covid-19 pandemic. We have had to change how we do things because we used to exclusively meet face-to-face with members of our community.”
 
Funding from Toi Foundation of $20k enabled North Taranaki Neighbourhood Support to purchase technology and a vehicle. The organisation provides support to a large area, from Mokau through to Okato and inland past Inglewood.
 
“With the generous support of Toi Foundation, we have been able to put everything online and buy a cellphone and tablet for our Field Officer. We have also purchased a vehicle because we cover quite a large area,” Janette said.
 
“We applied to Toi Foundation as we know they are a local funder who is interested in local people. The funding allows us to keep doing what we do each week, which is keeping people informed and creating connections.”
 
“We have a membership of over 8000 people throughout Taranaki. Our Field Officer has visited 78 victims of crime over the last 12 months. We make contact and create a group around where there has been a crime committed so that there's a little more security.” Janette said.
 
“By working together as a community, we can support each other and make our neighbourhoods safer and more welcoming, while strengthening community networks.”