First Half 2025
Foodbank Support: Nicola Plumridge
In the first half of the year, we provided 644 food parcels to 1,471 people across the Upper Clutha.
We’re continuing to see increasing numbers of households that are struggling as a result of a change in family dynamics. These include born and breed locals juggling multiple jobs while raising young children, and as a result are stretched to the limit. With rents of over $800 a week not uncommon, that’s nearly a salary of $52,000 a year before tax, therefore there’s little, if anything left so when costs like winter heating or new tyres for the car come up, families are left with nowhere else to turn.
This year we are noticing more people seeking food support who are unable to work due to an injury or accident. ACC payments rarely cover basic living expenses, and those with injuries often need some recovery time before returning to work so will not be able to receive the income they require to meet their needs. Sometimes their benefit has ended before they are able to return to full-time work, or their role no longer exist which presents even greater problems.
Community Link’s Foodbank is not a long-term solution. It’s a temporary helping hand when people like those above need it most.
Community Services - Connection: Kim Baker
Total enquiries: 4144
JP Clinic: 572
WINZ Interactions: 252
Over the past six months, our front desk has experienced sustained and growing demand from across the community. We are seeing an increasingly wide range of people presenting with diverse, often complex needs. Notably, there has been a significant rise in health-related concerns. These range from financial barriers to accessing healthcare, Wheels to Dunstan bookings for hospital visits, and increasing requests for a total mobility card.
Demand for connection to legal and government service requests remains extremely high. Our Justice of the Peace (JP), Community Law, and Inland Revenue (IRD) clinics continue to run at capacity, responding effectively to community demand. The number of people trying to access Ministry of Social Development (MSD) services is also rising. Community members are presenting to our front desk with unresolved MSD issues, many reporting delays or lack of response which is frustrating for them. This appears to be a result of increased need for financial support, alongside reduced MSD staffing.
As winter deepens, we are also experiencing a clear seasonal surge in requests for heating support.
Our role as a trusted ‘one-stop-shop’ for support continues to strengthen. As community awareness of Community Link grows, so too does the number of people who turn to us for help, advice, and connection to essential services.
Social Support Highlights: Kenzie Mastronardi
Community Link continues to build strong, meaningful connections across the Upper Clutha, helping people feel welcomed, supported and part of something bigger. The Hāwea Community Day, hosted by the Hāwea Community Association, was a standout - giving us the chance to meet new families, share what we do, and build relationships with other local organisations with one of the district’s fastest-growing communities (and yes, the jet planes were a hit!).
Our Coffee Connection events for seniors remain a valued and trusted space for new residents to find their footing and feel part of the community. One attendee summed it up perfectly: “I know the place, I know the people who work there - and I feel comfortable.”
Through the Food Security Network, we’ve been working on new initiatives like Pantry Power Emergency Food Posters to better prepare individuals and households for unexpected hardship. The Community Garden also delivered a bumper crop of fresh herbs and vegetables for the foodbank, showing the power of shared effort and local growing.
Meanwhile, our Family Support Programme continues to walk alongside families with young children who’ve relocated here without nearby whānau or networks. Our volunteers say the experience is just as rewarding for them - creating a beautiful cycle of support, connection, and growth.
Health & Wellbeing – Occupational Therapy snapshot: Ana Amador
181 people travelled to medical appointments through Wheels to Dunstan - that’s a 45% jump from this time last year!
Community Link’s Occupational Therapy service has quickly become a valued and compassionate support for many. Since launching six months ago, the service has seen steady and growing demand, with an average of 27 clients being supported each month. Many of these individuals reach out after quietly managing complex challenges on their own making that first step to ask for help even more significant.
The service offers a safe, non-judgemental space where people feel truly heard. Each person’s situation is unique, and while the issues aren’t always complicated, they are often deeply personal. The occupational therapist works alongside individuals to bridge the gap between their current circumstances and the right support - whether that’s navigating a tough life moment or linking them to additional services.
The impact has been especially meaningful for those without strong local support networks or for whom English isn’t their first language. This service continues to show the importance of person-centred care and the lasting difference it can make when people feel they don’t have to face things alone.