A Brief History…
Shirley Community Trust (SCT) was established in 1999 as the community arm of St Stephen’s Anglican Church and grew out of the ‘Friday Night Meal’ that was being run by the church for community. Church members continue to be actively involved in a variety of Trust activities. The Trust has a grass-roots community development approach to all its initiatives and events and is proud to work alongside local people to enable a real community spirit to prevail in the Shirley area.
Our Location
SCT operates the majority of its projects and programmes from its two centres located on Acheson Avenue, Shirley, Christchurch. The Park Centre at 19A Acheson Ave, and the Neighbourhood Centre at 17 Acheson Ave, are located next to the KidsFirst Kindergarten and border the expansive MacFarlane Park.
Projects & Special Events
SCT now runs over 25 projects, most being weekly, some fortnightly, monthly or quarterly, and a few annually. We utilise MacFarlane Park as much as possible for outdoor events, festivals, and in summer, weekly Social Touch Rugby and Basketball.
The diversity of projects reflect the diversity of the Shirley community. Projects target different age groups, culture, interests and needs. Some projects have run for many years, like the ‘MacFarlanes on the Park’ café, while others are for a season depending on community need and involvement.
Smaller events also run throughout the year, including Community BBQ’s, Special Holiday Activities and Christmas Events, etc.
Our Support Partners
We are the foundation and umbrella for Shirley Village Project, which pro-actively addresses high level issues of concern in the local community through a community led development approach.
Together SCT and SVP work with other local organisations, agencies, businesses, NGO’s, funders and local residents to better address local issues.
A collaboration between Canterbury sporting organisations and the Northwest Collective focused on bringing play to the children of North-West Christchurch; addressing the issue of the lack of physical activity among young people and the gap in opportunities to engage in non-formal sport.
We partner with CFT for provision of fresh healthy produce and essential kai to our local community.
The North West Collective is comprised of nine Christchurch community organisations committed to working together to better coordinate services, resource our respective communities and to support each other. The Collective includes: Belfast Community Network; Bishopdale Community Trust; Community Focus Trust; Neighbourhood Trust; Northgate Community Services Trust; Papanui Baptist Freedom Trust; Papanui Youth Development Trust; Shirley Community Trust; Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi.
We work closely with ESCC around local sports activities and events, community connection and our annual Light Party, to mutually support each other’s kaupapa and mahi in this area.
Was the foundation of the Trust and supports our work with volunteers involved in many of our activities and events.
Sponsors of Shirley Community Trust
We acknowledge and thank all our funders as well as our supporters - Bunnings, Fonterra, Zealandia, Vivace, Nourish Oraka, Delta and all those who generously share their time, energy and resources.
This support and our many valuable volunteers enable us to achieve so much more as a community.