The focus of the Waimakariri Safer Community Council (WSCC) is crime prevention
through community-based early intervention projects that target key
drivers of crime in the District.
The WSCC has developed a number of crime prevention and community
safety issues that have grown into community owned services including
the Kaiapoi Young Persons College, the local youth drug and alcohol
service, Safer Schools Programme and crime prevention.
What Projects are the WSCC Working on?
Currently WSCC is focussing on four projects areas:
Alcohol – Engaging the Community for Alcohol Action
Waimakariri District Council adopted a Community Alcohol Action Plan (pdf, 262 kB)
in December 2009 with the broad aim to reduce alcohol-related harm
within our District and enhance the wellbeing of our communities.
The broad objectives of this three-year community action plan are to:
- Minimise alcohol-related harm through effective regulatory and planning mechanisms
- Undertake an advocacy role for change in alcohol legislation and promotion for a safer community outcome
- Educate and empower the community to make safe and responsible choices about alcohol
- Promote
safe drinking, the principles of host responsibility and engage in
partnerships with key stakeholders across the Waimakariri District
- Engage with young people in the community through education and recreation opportunities.
The
Community Alcohol Action Plan is implemented under the direction of a
steering group led by the Crime Prevention Project facilitator, and
includes representation from a wide range of local agencies.
Family Violence – Breaking the Cycle of Family Violence
The
Family Violence Network has been supporting children, women, families
and community organisations across Waimakariri for the last 10 years.
The
aim of the Network is to work towards ending family violence in the
Waimakariri District, educating the community about family violence
issues and empowering the community to send the message that family
violence is unacceptable.
Three key components of the Family Violence Network project work include:
- Providing
a range of professional development opportunities to upskill education
and social service providers' staff to support those affected by all
forms of family violence
- Raising awareness of family violence
issues and the impact it has on our community through community groups
and events. Focus is on what is family violence, how to recognise it,
how to respond and what will happen if we take action
- Developing a Family Violence Prevention Community Action Plan.
Early Intervention – Supporting Families and Children
The
early intervention project involves the Council collaborating with
local services agencies and statutory agencies to develop an early
intervention plan to impact on a range of children.
These children may be exhibiting challenging behaviour in preschool and
primary school settings, their parents may need some support in managing
behaviours or establishing routines, or they may need some help in
dealing with family issues impacting on their children.
The project includes:
- A literature review and national and international research on similar projects
- Pilot early intervention approaches based on collaboration and literature review
- The
level of support required will be individual and responsive to the
needs of each child or family. It may be a 10 minute chat on the sofa
to an intensive parental support programme.
Youth Offending Community Service and Community Education Services
WSCC
supports the provision of the youth offending community and education
services by providing funding and support through the R13 Trust.
The Trust was set up to:
- Meet the needs of young people, especially those at risk of criminal offending and/or other negative future outcomes
- Operate
a range of alternative educational and skill development programmes
that have been proven to meet these needs and contribute to the positive
personal outcomes of individuals
- Provide a supervised
community service programme for young people to enable those who have
offended against the law or against school regulations, to face
consequences for their actions by carrying out supervised community
service.
Who are the Representatives for the WSCC?
The
WSCC employs a Crime Prevention Project Facilitator to identify,
develop, implement and monitor crime prevention and community safety
initiatives. The advisory group for WSCC is a strategic steering group
with representatives from NZ Police, Child Youth and Family, an elected
Councillor, Council staff, a community representative, Community
Probation Services, a Social Services representative and a Family
Violence Prevention Services Representative.
back to top
Quick Links
Alcohol Related Issues
Family Violence Related Issues
Early Intervention
Youth Offending Related Issues