Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc. (MVNS) were successful in obtaining the tender to manage the MEETING PLACE at 22 Marjorie St from September 2007.  We see this as a partnership with Department of Housing as a way of supporting community members and tenant groups while also addressing some of the entrenched issues which affect the community. 

Currently there are five tenant groups supported through this partnership.  They are the Tenants Action Group, Seniors Social Group and two garden groups. A member from each of these groups is invited to attend 3-monthly committee meetings with MVNS where they get to raise issues they may have identified around the estate, as well as to update us on what their individual group has been doing.  If you have an idea for a group – then please approach us for support!

We also hold 6-monthly meetings with other services and workers who may have a stake in what is happening on the estate.

One of our aims is to have a presence by other service providers at the Meeting Place to ensure that this community is kept linked in with the broader community and to make services accessible.

Some of the current activities:

• Provide an outreach information, advocacy and referral role by linking in to our main office in Wingham
• Providing outreach by our own services eg Domestic Violence workers, migrant worker, community worker, tax help, case worker, client support/advocacy
• Develop specific programs based on need
• Access opportunities for tenants and volunteers to undertake training
• Liaise with services already providing support to the estate to encourage linkage and partnerships to address issues 
• Develop school holiday activities and ensure that kids have the opportunity to be connected to activities in other locations
• Community development activities based around ‘community’ and how it can be built while also encouraging ownership and responsibility
• Encourage tenants to become involved in activities and opportunities provided which encourage learning and skills development
• Provide workshops on relevant issues
• Support volunteer involvement in the centre (MVNS has great success with their volunteers – building self-esteem etc and many eventually finding employment) and train them
• Provide use of office equipment and services
• Look at avenues to improve the physical environment at the centre and on the estate
• Regular newlsetters (you can view these online )
  

The Meeting Place has had a makeover and we held an Open Day in October 2007 to show the tenants the ‘new look’. 

We send around a Meeting Place newsletter every 4-6 weeks .  If you have any news or items you would like to be placed in the newsletter – please let us know.  This is a FREE service.

We recently held consultations with community members from the estate, young people from the estate and service providers in an attempt to identify priorities which need addressing.  While there were many, many issues identified, we are have prioritised three main areas – increasing activities for young people, improving the appearance of the estate and providing better access to services.

We will keep you posted as activities are developed.

Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc. (MVNS) were successful in obtaining the tender to manage the MEETING PLACE at 22 Marjorie St from September 2007.  We see this as a partnership with Department of Housing as a way of supporting community members and tenant groups while also addressing some of the entrenched issues which affect the community. 

Currently there are five tenant groups supported through this partnership.  They are the Tenants Action Group, Seniors Social Group and two garden groups. A member from each of these groups is invited to attend 3-monthly committee meetings with MVNS where they get to raise issues they may have identified around the estate, as well as to update us on what their individual group has been doing.  If you have an idea for a group – then please approach us for support!

We also hold 6-monthly meetings with other services and workers who may have a stake in what is happening on the estate.

One of our aims is to have a presence by other service providers at the Meeting Place to ensure that this community is kept linked in with the broader community and to make services accessible.

Some of the current activities:

• Provide an outreach information, advocacy and referral role by linking in to our main office in Wingham
• Providing outreach by our own services eg Domestic Violence workers, migrant worker, community worker, tax help, case worker, client support/advocacy
• Develop specific programs based on need
• Access opportunities for tenants and volunteers to undertake training
• Liaise with services already providing support to the estate to encourage linkage and partnerships to address issues 
• Develop school holiday activities and ensure that kids have the opportunity to be connected to activities in other locations
• Community development activities based around ‘community’ and how it can be built while also encouraging ownership and responsibility
• Encourage tenants to become involved in activities and opportunities provided which encourage learning and skills development
• Provide workshops on relevant issues
• Support volunteer involvement in the centre (MVNS has great success with their volunteers – building self-esteem etc and many eventually finding employment) and train them
• Provide use of office equipment and services
• Look at avenues to improve the physical environment at the centre and on the estate
• Regular newlsetters (you can view these online )
  

The Meeting Place has had a makeover and we held an Open Day in October 2007 to show the tenants the ‘new look’. 

We send around a Meeting Place newsletter every 4-6 weeks .  If you have any news or items you would like to be placed in the newsletter – please let us know.  This is a FREE service.

We recently held consultations with community members from the estate, young people from the estate and service providers in an attempt to identify priorities which need addressing.  While there were many, many issues identified, we are have prioritised three main areas – increasing activities for young people, improving the appearance of the estate and providing better access to services.

We will keep you posted as activities are developed.