A new digital platform created by West Auckland organisations is helping to support people living in Waitākere during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West Auckland Together hub provides extensive online information designed specifically for families in West Auckland, focussing on ideas, resources and tips for wellbeing which are all simple, easy to find and relevant to whānau.
The Healthy Families Waitākere and Sport Waitakere team backboned its development, with Collaborative Marketplace teams feeding in support and services available through their organisations. The hub has proved to be an invaluable resource, seeing numerous organisations reaching out to ensure their services are listed on the hub. Healthy Families Waitākere Manager, Kerry Allan, explains.
“The Collaborative Marketplace identified a need for a one-stop-shop where whānau could access information and resources across multiple organisations throughout West Auckland and beyond. Our team worked to develop the West Auckland Together hub, seeing it grow from strength to strength since its launch.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it an overload of information from multiple sources. One of the challenges for our community during this time has been deciphering this overload and breaking it down into what is most helpful and relevant, says Sport Waitākere CEO, Lynette Adams.
“The West Auckland hub is designed to provide a centre of accessible information around family wellbeing, although the focus right now is on COVID-19, the Collaborative Marketplace organisations see this platform continuing to provide relevant information in the future,” she says.
Claire Louisse, Community Broker for Waitākere Ranges Local Board, says the hub is the result of many organisations harnessing the power of collective impact to help communities.
“Everyone involved in this project offers their perspective, cultural lens, and connections in the community which helps keep the information relevant and useful. We welcome contributions so the hub can evolve with our communities’ needs and priorities.”
About the Collaborative Marketplace:
The Collaborative Marketplace is a collaboration of organisations meeting regularly to share skills and resources for the benefit of the wider West Auckland community. Organisations include Community Waitākere, EcoMatters, Family Action, Massey Matters, MPHS, WEST, Sport Waitākere, Healthy Families Waitākere, VisionWest and Auckland Council. A number of other West Auckland groups have also contributed to the hub, including Generation Ignite and Neighbourhood Support Waitākere.
