Connecting communities focus of Social Well-Being Strategy

The key focus of Hamilton’s new Social Well-being Strategy is on connecting communities, by providing leadership and direction.

Adopted today by Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee, the new strategy has been developed this year by a Leadership Forum of around 20 social development agencies from across the city. As well as reviewing the city’s previous strategy from 2007, they have also had input from a community consultation workshop.

Supporting the Connecting our Communities focus are three additional priorities:

• Training our people for jobs
• Accessible housing for all
• Our homes, our neighbourhoods and our city are safe places

An action plan and monitoring framework will now be developed by the Leadership Forum, with input from other organisations and community groups within the city. There will be a particular focus on Hamilton’s youth, older people and Maori communities.

Commenting, Strategy and Policy Committee chairperson Cr Maria Westphal said: “This strategy is a great example of our social services agencies working together to provide both leadership and direction for the community.

“We all want the very best for our people, and this strategy is an important first step in strengthening community involvement, participation and pride across our city.”

The Strategy will be monitored every six months, and reviewed again in 3-5 years.

This is one of eight Council strategies which underpin the city’s Vision and its Outcomes and Goals. It and the Economic Development Agenda (also adopted  today) and Arts Agenda (adopted in April) have been reviewed this year, with the remaining five strategies in the process of being reviewed.