Helensville’s food bank, budgeting service and arts centre are part of a new community hub that has opened in the retrofitted basement of the Helensville War Memorial Hall.
Rodney Local Board relocated these groups into new premises in the hall. The Helensville Arts Centre occupies half the basement and has a gallery, two workshop areas, an office/kitchen, large storage areas and toilets.
The Helensville Emergency Foodbank and Helensville-Waimauku Family Budgeting Service share the other half of the basement area.
This includes a storage area for the food bank, two offices, two meeting rooms and a waiting area. There is also a community meeting room. Email venuehire@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for bookings.
Outside the hall, a ramp provides wheelchair access, and a staircase has been built inside to provide entry to the mezzanine. The mezzanine now has an office at each end and a central room to control the stage lighting.
“The building had been underused for some time before the upgrade,” says Rodney Local Board Chairperson Brenda Steele. “Now it will be a fully utilised space for many people in our community.”
