The Featherston community did it again – we turned up in spades to Kiwi Hall and showed our love and belief in our place and our community. And this in spite of the meeting falling smack bang in the pre-Sunday-dinner-lull and there being at least another 3 community events on the very same day!
The purpose of the meeting was for DIA to gauge whether or not Featherston is ready to be selected for the CLD Programme. The focus of the CLD Programme is “Communities Working Together”, following the principles of community-led development, to achieve shared visions and goals. The meeting was requested by DIA as a result of the recent application for Featherston to be selected for five years of partnership/investment, from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)’s Community-Led Development Programme, to achieve our community goals. The application drew on the recently developed community plan. If selected, Featherston will be able to access support and funding to achieve share community goals for up to five years.
The five principles of Community-led development are:
- shared local goals driving action and change
- using existing strengths and assets
- many people and groups working together
- building diverse and collaborative local leadership
- adaptable planning and action informed by outcomes
We will have our fingers and toes crossed while waiting for the outcome. In the meantime we are continuing to develop our Skills and Interests register. Let us know what are your talents and time that you are wanting to contribute to Featherston’s goals (email us at fabfeathy@outlook.co.nz ). We will be sure to be back with as update as soon as we have some news.
Thank you to the lovely people from DIA who traveled far to came to our town on this Sunday night to talk to the Featherston community.
Thank you to everyone who attended, for your generosity of ideas and support, and to all of the Featherston community, for the multitude of amazing community-led development projects that are already taking place and the level of participation and support that you have provided in the surveys, activities, noticeboards and meetings & events.
Special thanks to supporters and sponsors, including Tracey Shepherd for advisory support, Wairarapa REAP for projector hire, Featherston Supervalue for milk & cookies, Brenda West for organising the hall, Martine Bijker for poster design, Tiff North for slide show, Amy & Sue for helping to set up the meeting, and all the volunteers who lent a hand clean up after the meeting.
The Fab Feathy Team.
