The Hub Te Puke survives with community backing, funding boost

The Hub Te Puke general manager Scott Nicholson. Photo / Talia Parker

Encouragement and financial help have combined to secure the immediate future of The Hub Te Puke.

The Hub runs food support services, including Te Puke’s foodbank and a range of other services either off its own bat or in partnership with other organisations.

However, in December, a perilous financial position was revealed, with a worst-case scenario that it might have had to close on December 20.

The response was immediate, and the services survived.

Now, although tempered with a note of caution, the future is brighter, chief executive Scott Nicholson said

“The last week of December was very hectic and there were lots of meetings going on with all our funders,” Nicholson said.

The Hub Te Puke received Vital Impact Funding from Acorn Foundation.

“The financial support has come from so many different levels.

“In the community, there seems to be a growing number of people who are giving $10 a week, $5 a week, where they can through to others who are giving substantially more.”

Other organisations have made donations, and a new Ministry of Social Development contract has been secured.

“With all our planning and everything we can see ourselves through to the end of March this year easily and we have done modelling out to March 2026 and it’s doable.

“But the more support we get means the more support we can give.”

Equally important had been the vote of confidence The Hub has received from its community.

“One of the things, when you go into a situation like this, is: Are we doing any good? Is the community behind what we are doing? And are we doing a good job?”

The answer to each question was a resounding “yes”, Nicholson said.

“I had numerous people stop me in the street and tell me their story of how we’ve supported them and that the community can’t do without us — which is a little bit sad, but at the same time is amazing.

“That in itself was hugely beneficial to myself and the team in terms of giving us the energy to do what we can do to ensure we can continue.”

There was still a need to work towards making the services more sustainable.

Nicholson said one area was to look at how The Hub worked with other social service providers in Te Puke to possibly find ways of working closer together to reduce overall costs.

Initiatives

“We are [also] looking at ramping up what we can do in the fundraising space . . . including public workshops,” Nicholson said.

“And we are seeking sponsorship for some of the things we are doing and approaching our funding in a more nuanced way.”

While there was no plan to reduce services short term, the situation was still fluid.

“Right now, we can continue at the same level of service, but moving into the new financial year it is very tight.

“If we can’t secure any extra funding in the next week, we will probably have to look at reduced services, whether that is reducing our opening hours each day or reducing the number of days we are open.”

Services

The Hub provides a drop-in centre, various levels of food support, social services and advocacy, and housing navigation support. Other services including budget services, insurance advocacy and support, family court navigation and other legal services are also offered at The Hub in partnership with other organisations.

“On one level sad that it’s needed, but the reality is we all have crisis points at various times and family aren’t always in a position to help. It’s great we can, as a community, provide a response or support for people,” Nicholson said.

While the seasonal work offered by the upcoming kiwifruit season meant there was a possibility demand on food support services would reduce, there was often an increased demand for other services, particularly around housing needs.

Visit The Hub Te Puke Facebook page for information on how to offer support.