Helping Hands services extend
Helping Hands co-ordinator Peter Pontier and Te Whare Mahana manager Jo Johnson. Photo Marg Braggins
The employment support enterprise Helping Hands has taken a step towards becoming increasingly self-sustainable and broadening its scope.
A grant received from the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) in December 2010 has enabled the organisation, which provides property maintenance, firewood, a recycling service for local businesses and lots of other services, to expand its capacity and to reach out into the community, said Helping Hands co-ordinator Peter Pontier.
“We are looking for employment opportunities for more people from the wider community. With the support we received, Helping Hands will be able to more fully participate in the economic and social life of Golden Bay. At the moment, we still need the extra funding but we want to become a more self-sustainable organisation—that’s what we are aiming for.”
The grant enabled Peter to employ more staff so he has his hands free to work on further service development and on turning Helping Hands increasingly into an enterprise that generates enough income to be able to benefit a social goal. Ongoing support from the community and increased cooperation with other local agencies to achieve shared goals will be a key factor in this process.
“We run a business, a social enterprise, to create an environment where people can get going again based on their skills and passions. We will involve a broader range of people, young and older people, who need extra support to get going again if they got stuck some time in their lives and want to get back into the workforce,” said Peter. “It is about community participation and community building. Our workers in Helping Hands are our biggest asset and inspiration. Helping Hands is part of a bigger approach. We are looking at community economic development and to generate more income to support more people.”
As such, Helping Hands’ goal fits in with the Government’s drive to create resilient communities relying on self-help rather than on government funding, which has widely been reduced across all sectors. Although Helping Hands covers now all its operational costs it still needs external financial support to pay for its staff that creates the employment opportunities. Finding this financial support in the current political and economic climate is a real challenge.
Te Whare manager Jo Johnson explained that while the MSD’s “funding for innovation” did not replace any other government funding it came at a time of recession to strengthen communities from within.
“The loss of funding last year was quite a blow and we had to be creative. The MSD funding was a kick-start to keep going and to start something new.”
A person approaching Helping Hands under this new approach is still required to qualify for assistance in the first instance.
“We are not an employment agency,” she cautions. “This will always be the criteria for assistance - it has to come under the umbrella of health or social needs and assistance is aimed at those who seek some extra support.”
By December, when the MSD funding will be reviewed, Helping Hands is required to have a business plan in place. A sound business plan will be crucial for its survival. In the meantime, Peter and Jo are looking for sponsors, advisors and bright entrepreneurial ideas from the community that will help to make the leap to become more self-sustainable.They can be contacted at 525 6226 or 525 9624.
Ina Holst
