Welcome to the Glenfield Community Centre
Check us out on Facebook or on our blog at www.glenfieldcommunitycentre.blogspot.comAlso don’t forget to have a look at the ‘What’s New’ tab to see new classes starting up at
the Centre.
The Glenfield Community Centre, situated on the corner of Glenfield Road and Bentley Avenue, the large terracotta building next to the library, is a charitable Incorporated Society operated for the benefit of Glenfield residents.
The complex consists of an administration office, the old Mission Hall (a heritage building) sixteen rooms (some with kitchen facilities), nine toilets, and a communal kitchen. Early Learning Centre (ELC) catering for preschool children, offering nine sessions per week (each session being 2½ hours) along with a 9am to 2.30pm per day for 3-4 year old under the 20 free hours scheme – for more information visit our Early Learning Centre page.
School Holiday Programme (SHP) operating for 8 hours a day in the school holidays – an average roll of 36 children – for more information visit our School Holidays Programmes page.
The Governance group oversees the management of the Centre. It consists of eleven people including two representatives of the City Council and two representatives of current land owners. Along with the Centre Manager and the accountant they meet every second month where agenda items are discussed reports are presented and any future plans prepared.
The Constitution of the Glenfield Community Centre Inc. states that every person resident in Glenfield is a member of the Society. The governing body is elected by residents at a public meeting. Our general philosophy is to enable groups, individuals and organisations to provide services, education and activities which benefit individuals and the community.
Our History
When the Glenfield Community Centre became an Incorporated Society in 1977 Glenfield was growing rapidly. When the harbour bridge opened in 1959 the North Shore quickly became a very desirable place to live – it was now easily accessible from Auckland City. But because of the nature of the land, Glenfield was becoming a collection of unconnected housing developments along the many ridges, with little to engender a feeling of “Community”, and a real lack of a recognizable centre.In 1977, a small group of residents, recognizing the need for such a focal point, and observing the distinct lack of interest in the area by the Council, approached the then Co-operating Parish of Glenfield, Greenhithe and Albany with a proposal to allow the use of the old Mission Hall (built in 1915) and the land it occupied, as a site for Community activity. After discussions with the Methodist Church of New Zealand agreement to use the site was reached, and the Glenfield Community Centre was born.At first the activities were fairly low key. A community creche was set up in the hall. Then the Council was persuaded to provide a small prefab building on the site. A Citizens Advice Bureau was established and later a youth group was started.
In the early 1980s the small collection of prefabs on the site burned down, which created considerable problems, but out of this setback came the resolve to create a purpose built facility on the site. One that would house the offices of the Society, have specifically designed Creche and Plunket Rooms, provide at reasonable cost office space for those agencies that served the community and also make available a variety of rooms, including the Mission Hall (now classed as a heritage building) for hire to appropriate groups or people.
Work began on planning a complex and raising the finance to build it. Eventually, the three major parties settled on a plan which met the Centre requirements. The North Shore City Council provided a cash grant, the Methodist Church of New Zealand provided the use of the land rent-free, and the Society raised finance and obtained a grant from the ASB Bank.
Finally, in 1994 the present complex was opened.
Our Purpose The purpose of the Glenfield Community Centre is to recognise and respond to social, cultural, recreational and educational needs of the community and find ways to meet those needs with specific recognition of those who have least opportunity to participate in decision making in the community
Our Values
- Equal respect for all people
- Support and encouragement of community initiatives
- Honesty and integrity in dealing with people
- Modelling cooperation, communication and competence
- A strong commitment to the 7 Goals listed in our Constitution
- To provide services to families in Glenfield and its wider community with particular attention being paid to those who are disadvantaged.
- To be a source of information and referral for Glenfield people.
- Respond where appropriate to expressed community needs.
- Liaise with other organisations, institutes and individuals to raise community awareness of issues that affect the community.
- Administer and maintain buildings, facilities and equipment for community needs.
- Be a centre for community activity.
- For the Centre management to be accountable to the community