Hutt Valley Community Hub in recess. Hutt COSS have been working on a project to house community organisations in one building ... Read more
By Kay McKenzie, Hub Project facilitator. Kay was farewelled at the AGM as her term as Trustee was finished.
Hutt City Council is presently reviewing its Class 4 Gambling & Board Venue Policy and asked Hutt COSS for its input into this process. The coordinator canvessed Hutt COSS members and wrote a summary of responses.
Read the document sent to Council.
This is an example of the way Hutt Council of Social Services Trust serves the Hutt Valley Community.
Hutt City Council are presently getting initial feed-
The formal consultation is from April 19th -
May 2010 
Farewell from Coordinator; Lynne Philp
Hi Everyone,
For the sector, things are still grim for many. However, we can be on the look out for opportunities to cast our nets outside the box. Making the most of the assets we do have, how can we generate the income we need from that which we already have? Social lending to get these schemes off the ground will likely feature more in the future and something to keep an eye on.
It is with much sadness that I announce my resignation from the position of coordinator of Hutt Council of Social Services. I have very much enjoyed my time here. I have learned so much over the two and a half years. This learning has come both through the many training courses, seminars and meetings that I have had the privilege of attending and also directly from you, the Hutt COSS members and network members, many of whom I have also built friendships with. You have all been so very generous with your help and information as you have gently trained me over the years.
I have been in the interesting position of being able to have an overview into the sector, with the nature of the job, it has been said, “being the eyes and ears of the sector” . I have seen several trends happening alongside each other. Firstly we have had (and are having) the effects of the economic downturn, as the business world begins to recover, the community sector begins to feel the full effects. Along side of this, we have seen at a national level, the community sector beginning to become the political force it needs to be. At the national level, community agencies are beginning to present a united front and work together with the government of the day to endeavour to improve the situation for the community & voluntary sector at government policy level. It would be great to see an onflow of that collaborative work at a local level and with local government, as indeed we have seen the beginnings of this with the joint submission put to council at last year's draft annual plan and the suggestion of some show of solidarity at the gambling review submissions.
This is all very positive stuff and the community sector will continue to make the wonderful contribution to society that it always has despite the conditions, because this is the very nature of the community sector.
I salute you all and am very proud to have been numbered among you.
Lynne