Albert-Eden

Albert-Eden’s Local Board is passionate about community development and increasing neighbourhood connectedness.

 

Local economic development projects

The Albert-Eden business scene has numerous small businesses, many owned and operated and migrants. The community, including businesses, benefits when local businesses work collectively. Auckland Council’s community development team is facilitating these businesses to form business associations and invest back into the spaces they work. This involves building their knowledge and capacity about civic partnership, simplifying the process of becoming a business association, assisting them in working with the Local Board, supporting them through the funding application process and supplying some new associations with seed-funding.

This work has resulted in new business associations in Point Chevalier and a Balmoral Chinese Business Association.

 

Youth Development

Albert-Eden Local Youth board are in the early stages of establishing themselves. In the past they focused on young migrants writing their stories. These stories were well-received by the community and represented the experiences of migrants well. The project was so successful the stories have been collected into a book, set to be released soon.

Already they have been active in making young people aware of the youth board and gaining their feedback on the Albert-Eden Local Board plan.

 

Capacity building

Community development should be community driven. Auckland Council’s community development team is currently working to the build the capacity of local organisations to take on volunteers so they can be grow and be sustainable long-term.

 

Local food initiatives-community gardens

With over six community gardens already, Albert-Eden community is active in bringing its community together through gardening. The Board wants to encourage more local residents to participate.

The learning that communities gain through gardens is being harnessed as gardens are used for teaching as well. Monthly workshops and trainings are run which ensure the sharing of knowledge on a range of topics including recycling, to creating compost and of course, gardening itself.

The community gardens are operated according to communal values. Everyone is welcome to participate, and is encouraged to contribute. If you take some you grow some.

Albert-Eden community is encouraged by the Local Board to get active in the gardens and use them how they would like.