Keep up to date with Government information here: covid19.govt.nz
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre policies and statements on Covid-19
ORANGE AT THE NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE 28/4/22
At ORANGE at the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, you need to:
ORANGE AT THE NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE 14/4/22
At ORANGE at the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, you need to:
This policy is additional to the section about Vaccine Passes in our COVID-19 & VACCINE PASS REQUIREMENT UPDATE 1/4/22 (previous update, scroll down this page). This policy will be reviewed regularly, based around Capital & Coast District Health Board Covid numbers and government guidance. It will be amended according to whether we are in Red, Orange or Green.
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
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COVID-19 & VACCINE PASS REQUIREMENT UPDATE 1/4/22
The Board of the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre see Vaccine Passes as a tool to keep our staff and community safe, so has decided to continue requiring Vaccine Passes at some of our venues and for all of our programmes and events, until Covid-19 case numbers in the Wellington region have significantly reduced. We recommend that hirers at our other venues or outside of hours at 2a Green Street also follow this policy though these hirers can make this decision. We hope that this will only be for a matter of weeks and will be actively monitoring case numbers to review this decision.
Vaccine Passes will be required to access:
We recommend that hirers at Newtown Hall, Network Newtown and 2a Green Street (outside of our hours) also follow this policy, but will not require this. Any hirers at 2a Green Street during our office hours will be required to follow this policy. If you attend a class or group at any of our venues, the person leading it should be able to tell you if they will require Vaccine Passes or not.
Other precautions:
Anyone aged over 12 years entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events needs to:
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
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COVID-19 UPDATE 26/1/2022
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre Covid policy at Red.
Since 23rd January 2022, Aotearoa is now at Red.
Anyone aged over 12 years and 3 months entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events needs to:
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 UPDATE 1/12/2021
From 11.59pm on Thursday 2nd December 2021, Aotearoa will move to the Covid Protection Framework (traffic light system) as our next step in tackling Covid-19. See more about this framework here.
From Friday 3rd December 2021, anyone aged over 12 years and 3 months entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events must show a valid Vaccine Pass. See information on getting My Vaccine Pass here.
Our venues include the temporary community centre at 2a Green Street, the Wellington Timebank office, the Community Centre on the Corner of Colombo & Rintoul Streets, Newtown Hall, Network Newtown, Smart Newtown and the Newtown Tool Library (contactless tool pickup may be available). It also includes events run by the Newtown Community Centre, Smart Newtown or Wellington Timebank hosted elsewhere.
Staff or delegated volunteers at our venues are responsible to check Vaccine Passes during office hours, or at events they are working. Hirers of our venues are responsible to check the Vaccine Passes of their attendees at all times. We strongly encourage Vaccine Passes to be scanned using the Ministry of Health ‘NZ Pass Verifier’ app, but if this is not possible, they can be sighted.
Requiring Vaccine Passes allows us the freedom (at Orange) to:
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 UPDATE 15/02/2021
Wellington is currently back at Covid-19 alert level 2. During this time we're still open! Here's an update from us about what this means:
~ Everyone coming to the NCCC! ~
Wash your hands, sign in when you arrive and leave, cough/ sneeze into your elbow, keep a 1-2metre physical distance where possible, don't come in if you're not well! Be kind :)
~ Coming to a class or group? ~
Classes and groups are all good to continue, with extra safety precautions which the group leader will fill you in about! However, some groups will be making their own decisions to have a break - get in touch with us or with the group directly if you're not sure!
~ Hiring a venue? ~
We are still doing casual and regular venue hire at level 2. There will be extra Conditions of Hire which we will go through with you.
~ Coming in for a cuppa, or our Free Soup Friday? ~
Our Drop-In Room is still open! Our kitchen is closed to the public, but Ellie and Eryn in the office will be happy to make you a cuppa :) Free Soup lunch 12-1pm on Friday will be going ahead with extra safety precautions.
Let us know if you have any questions! We do appreciate your patience though while we are adjusting back to this situation. info@newtowncommunity.org.nz / 04 389 4786
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
COVID-19 UPDATE 22/9/2020
Kia ora tātou,
As you probably know, Wellington is now at Covid-19 alert level 1.
We still need to be vigilant though to keep ourselves and others safe.
For us, Level 1 means that:
Check the Covid-19 website for extra information: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-1
Many of our bookings that took a break during previous Levels have now restarted. Give us a call (04-3894786) or an email (info@newtownccommunity.org.nz) if you want to check the status on any activity/event or group here at the centre!
Thanks to you all for your mahi to keep Newtown awesome (and safe)!
COVID-19 UPDATE 12/8/2020
Wellington is currently back at Covid-19 alert level 2. During this time we're still open! Here's an update from us about what this means:
~ Everyone coming to the NCCC! ~
Wash your hands, sign in when you arrive and leave, cough/ sneeze into your elbow, keep a 1-2metre physical distance where possible, don't come in if you're not well! Be kind :)
~ Coming to a class or group? ~
Classes and groups are all good to continue, with extra safety precautions which the group leader will fill you in about! However, some groups will be making their own decisions to have a break - get in touch with us or with the group directly if you're not sure!
~ Hiring a venue? ~
We are still doing casual and regular venue hire at level 2. There will be extra Conditions of Hire which we will go through with you.
~ Coming in for a cuppa, or our Free Soup Friday? ~
Our Drop-In Room is still open! Our kitchen is closed to the public, but Ellie and Eryn in the office will be happy to make you a cuppa :) Free Soup lunch 12-1pm on Friday will be going ahead with extra safety precautions.
Let us know if you have any questions! We do appreciate your patience though while we are adjusting to this new situation. info@newtowncommunity.org.nz / 04 389 4786
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
COVID-19 UPDATE 9/6/2020
Now that Aotearoa has reached Covid-19 alert Level 1, we are excited to say that we are pretty much back to normal! The Community Centre is now open our usual hours 9-4.30 Monday - Friday. Drop in for free tea & coffee, a chat or any questions about venue hire, or to check out what's going on in Newtown!
We're still asking people to keep up the good work though - we need to stay vigilant about Covid-19 & also colds / flu:
We expect our classes and events will be getting back to normal over the next couple of weeks. Feel free to call us if you're not sure if something is happening! 04 389 4786. Our Free Soup Friday is starting up again on 12/6/20 12-1pm.
Our Justice of the Peace is not back yet, but we hope they will be soon. There is often one available at Paul Eagle's electorate office - 04 389 0989.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
____________________________
COVID-19 UPDATE: 29/5/2020
As we mentioned in previous communications, we’ll be reviewing our Level 2 guidelines as times goes on, time has gone on – so we’ve reviewed our Level 2 guidelines! The government has announced some changes to gatherings under level 2 – effective from Friday 29th May these can be up to 100 people (from 10). As we hold multiple venues in one premise, each venue is considered a separate space and therefore can have (up to) 100 people in it. Of course, many of our venues only allow a lesser number due to already existing size restrictions.
Here are the changes that we are going to be making whilst still at level 2 - effective from Tuesday 2nd.
• Most of our staff will come back to working at the centre, alongside volunteers.
• We will start to hire our venues for casuals/one-off hires.
• We will allow more groups to be in the premise in differing rooms/venues at the same time, although will still require the group to social distance in hallways and keep the premise locked to the wider public.
• We will allow more than 10 people per group – this will see more of our regular hirers back.
• We will open our drop-in during the mornings only from 9.30am-10.30am. Anyone is welcome to come have a free cup of tea or coffee and a chat. These drinks will be served.
• We will restart our Free Soup Fridays from 12th May with extra health/safety and social distancing protocols in place. Anyone is welcome to come along for a hot yummy bowl and good banter!
Please bear with us, we are really busy – we know everyone wants venue hire and has loads of questions, but we have lots to consider for each booking. We’ll do our best to get back to everyone in a timely fashion, but this may be delayed!
Outside of the Soup Friday, drop-in, people attending classes/workshops and by appointment the doors will remain locked and we are still ‘closed to wider public’.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie, Eryn and the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre whānau
____________________________
COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 2 UPDATE: 12/5/2020
Kia ora,
We’ve made the difficult decision that at Alert Level 2, we will not yet re-open the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre to the public.
The main reason for this is the structure of our building and the large number of different spaces that we have. We don’t believe physical distancing will be effective or possible, and our top priority is always to keep our community and our staff safe and well.
Although we won't have our doors open, a number of our private hirers will be returning over the next weeks, with strict regulations on how they can use the space safely. So if you usually come to a class or group at the Community Centre, contact the person who leads it to see if it’s starting back up again, or email info@newtowncommunity.org.nz to check.
Our staff will continue working from home - we’re really proud of the work that we’ve achieved remotely and we believe that we can continue doing a great job from afar for now.
We will be monitoring the situation closely and making decisions about what comes next for us in the next weeks.
We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors and welcoming the community back, once it’s safe to do so.
Kia kaha Newtown.
Ngā mihi,
Eryn, Ellie & the whole NCCC whānau
____________________________
Community Centre Closure update 23/3/2020:
Kia ora,
We’re sorry to say that we have followed the advice of Wellington City Council and today closed our doors. The health of our communities and our staff are our highest priority and we see this step as essential to stop the spread of the pandemic.
This means Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, Newtown Hall, Network Newtown and SMART Newtown have closed their doors to hirers and visitors. Wellington Timebank and the Newtown Citizens Advice Bureau offices are in the Community Centre and are also closed.
This means that we are not running our drop-in, or our Youth Programme activities in person (including Newtown Holiday Programme and Kids Club at Newtown Park). We’re working on different ways to reach out to our most vulnerable people and young people in the community.
We’re still working, and generally we are looking at creative ways that we can carry on supporting people and building community while maintaining physical distance. We would love to hear any ideas that you have.
Contact details:
Stay up to date – join our e-newsletter mailing list: bitly.com/newtowncontact
Join our new Facebook group for community support: bitly.com/newtowncovid19
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre – 022 422 9838/ info@newtowncommunity.org.nz
Wellington Timebank – info@wellingtontimebank.org.nz
Youth Programme – youth@newtowncommunity.org.nz
Kia kaha – Stay strong Newtown.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
Public Statement - updated 20/03/2020
Kia ora Newtown Community Centre visitors.
We wanted to write to you to let you know what we’re doing to prioritise your health and wellbeing (and our own!) in the light of COVID-19 / Coronavirus.
We don’t want panic, but we are acting cautiously to do what we can to prevent a widespread outbreak. We hope you will join us.
What we are doing:
Please get in touch if you have any questions/concerns/comments at all and we’ll be sure to update you all with any changes.
Ngā mihi,
Eryn and Ellie
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
At ORANGE at the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, you need to:
- WEAR A MASK unless you’re eating, drinking, exercising or at a private gathering of friends/whānau. Masks are always required in shared spaces or public events.
- STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK. Have Covid symptoms? Get tested & isolate if you need to. Even if the test is negative, please stay home until you’re well again.
- KEEP DISTANCE. Although we have now returned to full capacity in our venues, physical distancing from people you don’t know in common areas is still recommended, where possible.
- VACCINE PASSES ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED - although we reserve the right to review this.
ORANGE AT THE NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE 14/4/22
At ORANGE at the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, you need to:
- WEAR A MASK unless you’re eating, drinking, exercising or at a private gathering of friends/whānau. Masks are always required in shared spaces or public events.
- STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK. Have Covid symptoms? Get tested & isolate if you need to. Even if the test is negative, please stay home until you’re well again.
- SHOW YOUR VACCINE PASS during office hours at the main centre, at Smart Newtown or at Community Centre run events - this is until cases are lower in the Wellington region. Other groups will let you know if they require a Vaccine Pass or not. More details on this can be found in our 1/4/22 policy update below.
- KEEP DISTANCE. Although we have now returned to full capacity in our venues, physical distancing from people you don’t know is still strongly recommended.
This policy is additional to the section about Vaccine Passes in our COVID-19 & VACCINE PASS REQUIREMENT UPDATE 1/4/22 (previous update, scroll down this page). This policy will be reviewed regularly, based around Capital & Coast District Health Board Covid numbers and government guidance. It will be amended according to whether we are in Red, Orange or Green.
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 & VACCINE PASS REQUIREMENT UPDATE 1/4/22
The Board of the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre see Vaccine Passes as a tool to keep our staff and community safe, so has decided to continue requiring Vaccine Passes at some of our venues and for all of our programmes and events, until Covid-19 case numbers in the Wellington region have significantly reduced. We recommend that hirers at our other venues or outside of hours at 2a Green Street also follow this policy though these hirers can make this decision. We hope that this will only be for a matter of weeks and will be actively monitoring case numbers to review this decision.
Vaccine Passes will be required to access:
- The office and any services based at the Newtown Community Centre main premises (currently at 2a Green Street) during office hours 9am-4.30pm
- The Wellington Timebank office located at Green Street
- Smart Newtown on Constable Street
- Any hires at Network Newtown during Smart Newtown opening hours
- The Newtown Tool Library on Constable Street
- Classes and events that are run by the NCCC. This includes: Monday 5.30pm Everybody Dance, Tuesday 10am yoga, Thursday 10am yoga, Tuesday 10am tai chi, Friday 10.30am tai chi and any events that we run.
We recommend that hirers at Newtown Hall, Network Newtown and 2a Green Street (outside of our hours) also follow this policy, but will not require this. Any hirers at 2a Green Street during our office hours will be required to follow this policy. If you attend a class or group at any of our venues, the person leading it should be able to tell you if they will require Vaccine Passes or not.
Other precautions:
Anyone aged over 12 years entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events needs to:
- Show your Vaccine Pass (if required to - as above)
- Wash hands regularly and use hand sanitiser
- If you are unwell, please stay home and call your doctor or Healthline
- Maintain 1m distancing and abide by capacity limits
- Wear a mask at most times (see below)
- NCCC is a public facility – this means you are required to wear face covering/mask when visiting the office, popping in for a cuppa (you can take it off to eat/drink) or coming in to access a service.
- Face masks are required to be worn in common areas of our venues - e.g. in hallways, when moving to the kitchen or bathroom in a venue with shared common areas
- If the gathering/event is open to the public, face masks are required at all times
- If the event is private and made up of friends/whānau who regularly meet, face masks are recommended at all times
- At exercise classes, masks are required, but may be removed when exercising
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 UPDATE 26/1/2022
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre Covid policy at Red.
Since 23rd January 2022, Aotearoa is now at Red.
Anyone aged over 12 years and 3 months entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events needs to:
- Show your Vaccine Pass
- Scan in using the COVID Tracer app or use our provided paper sign-in process - the Covid Vaccine Pass is not a substitute for contact tracing
- Wash hands regularly and use hand sanitiser
- If you are unwell, please stay home and call your doctor or Healthline
- Maintain 1m distancing and abide by capacity limits
- Wear a mask at most times (see below)
- Please see new government advice here on what is an acceptable face mask. We can provide masks for visitors if needed (but appreciate a donation for this!)
- NCCC is a public facility – this means you are required to wear face covering/mask when visiting the office, popping in for a cuppa (you can take it off to eat/drink) or coming in to access a service.
- Face masks are required to be worn in common areas of our venues - e.g. in hallways, when moving to the kitchen or bathroom in a venue with shared common areas
- If the gathering/event is open to the public, face masks are required at all times
- If the event is private and made up of friends/whānau who regularly meet, face masks are recommended at all times
- At exercise classes, masks are required, but may be removed when exercising
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 UPDATE 1/12/2021
From 11.59pm on Thursday 2nd December 2021, Aotearoa will move to the Covid Protection Framework (traffic light system) as our next step in tackling Covid-19. See more about this framework here.
From Friday 3rd December 2021, anyone aged over 12 years and 3 months entering any Newtown Community & Centre venues and events must show a valid Vaccine Pass. See information on getting My Vaccine Pass here.
Our venues include the temporary community centre at 2a Green Street, the Wellington Timebank office, the Community Centre on the Corner of Colombo & Rintoul Streets, Newtown Hall, Network Newtown, Smart Newtown and the Newtown Tool Library (contactless tool pickup may be available). It also includes events run by the Newtown Community Centre, Smart Newtown or Wellington Timebank hosted elsewhere.
Staff or delegated volunteers at our venues are responsible to check Vaccine Passes during office hours, or at events they are working. Hirers of our venues are responsible to check the Vaccine Passes of their attendees at all times. We strongly encourage Vaccine Passes to be scanned using the Ministry of Health ‘NZ Pass Verifier’ app, but if this is not possible, they can be sighted.
Requiring Vaccine Passes allows us the freedom (at Orange) to:
- Increase safety in our community
- Allow events and private gatherings in our venues with no Covid imposed limits on numbers
- People can access tea, coffee and kai at our events and venues
- Scan in using the COVID Tracer app or use an alternatively provided sign-in process - the Covid Vaccine Pass is not a substitute for contact tracing
- Leave a little earlier for classes or events to avoid any queues during peak times
- Wash hands regularly and use hand sanitizer
- If you are unwell, please stay home and call your doctor or Healthline.
- NCCC is a public facility – this means when we are in Orange you are required to wear face covering/mask when visiting the office, popping in for a cuppa tea (you can take it off to eat/drink) or coming in to access a service.
- Face coverings/masks will need to be worn in common areas of our venues
- Face coverings/masks are not mandatory when you are with your group in your venue – or at a specific community centre event. The host of the event/group will let you know.
- However, we encourage you to wear a face covering/mask as often as you can – we have spare masks available for our visitors.
Please get in touch if you have any questions - info@newtowncommunity.org.nz or 04 389 4786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID-19 UPDATE 15/02/2021
Wellington is currently back at Covid-19 alert level 2. During this time we're still open! Here's an update from us about what this means:
~ Everyone coming to the NCCC! ~
Wash your hands, sign in when you arrive and leave, cough/ sneeze into your elbow, keep a 1-2metre physical distance where possible, don't come in if you're not well! Be kind :)
~ Coming to a class or group? ~
Classes and groups are all good to continue, with extra safety precautions which the group leader will fill you in about! However, some groups will be making their own decisions to have a break - get in touch with us or with the group directly if you're not sure!
~ Hiring a venue? ~
We are still doing casual and regular venue hire at level 2. There will be extra Conditions of Hire which we will go through with you.
~ Coming in for a cuppa, or our Free Soup Friday? ~
Our Drop-In Room is still open! Our kitchen is closed to the public, but Ellie and Eryn in the office will be happy to make you a cuppa :) Free Soup lunch 12-1pm on Friday will be going ahead with extra safety precautions.
Let us know if you have any questions! We do appreciate your patience though while we are adjusting back to this situation. info@newtowncommunity.org.nz / 04 389 4786
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
COVID-19 UPDATE 22/9/2020
Kia ora tātou,
As you probably know, Wellington is now at Covid-19 alert level 1.
We still need to be vigilant though to keep ourselves and others safe.
For us, Level 1 means that:
- Kitchens open - in all of our venues. Please use the dishwasher / wash & dry dishes thoroughly if there is no dishwasher.
- Contact tracing is still required by us. Please still use our app / paper forms to sign in & make sure your group members do too.
- Stay home if you’re sick!
- Hygiene practices - Keep washing hands / coughing into elbows
- Physical distancing is still recommended with people you don’t know, so please keep hallways and shared areas as clear as possible.
- Number of people allowed in our spaces is now only limited by the venue capacity.
Check the Covid-19 website for extra information: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-1
Many of our bookings that took a break during previous Levels have now restarted. Give us a call (04-3894786) or an email (info@newtownccommunity.org.nz) if you want to check the status on any activity/event or group here at the centre!
Thanks to you all for your mahi to keep Newtown awesome (and safe)!
COVID-19 UPDATE 12/8/2020
Wellington is currently back at Covid-19 alert level 2. During this time we're still open! Here's an update from us about what this means:
~ Everyone coming to the NCCC! ~
Wash your hands, sign in when you arrive and leave, cough/ sneeze into your elbow, keep a 1-2metre physical distance where possible, don't come in if you're not well! Be kind :)
~ Coming to a class or group? ~
Classes and groups are all good to continue, with extra safety precautions which the group leader will fill you in about! However, some groups will be making their own decisions to have a break - get in touch with us or with the group directly if you're not sure!
~ Hiring a venue? ~
We are still doing casual and regular venue hire at level 2. There will be extra Conditions of Hire which we will go through with you.
~ Coming in for a cuppa, or our Free Soup Friday? ~
Our Drop-In Room is still open! Our kitchen is closed to the public, but Ellie and Eryn in the office will be happy to make you a cuppa :) Free Soup lunch 12-1pm on Friday will be going ahead with extra safety precautions.
Let us know if you have any questions! We do appreciate your patience though while we are adjusting to this new situation. info@newtowncommunity.org.nz / 04 389 4786
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
COVID-19 UPDATE 9/6/2020
Now that Aotearoa has reached Covid-19 alert Level 1, we are excited to say that we are pretty much back to normal! The Community Centre is now open our usual hours 9-4.30 Monday - Friday. Drop in for free tea & coffee, a chat or any questions about venue hire, or to check out what's going on in Newtown!
We're still asking people to keep up the good work though - we need to stay vigilant about Covid-19 & also colds / flu:
- Keep washing your hands!
- Keep a track of where you've been in case of another Covid outbreak. (We still have paper forms and app sign in if you want to use them.)
- Please stay home if you're not well.
We expect our classes and events will be getting back to normal over the next couple of weeks. Feel free to call us if you're not sure if something is happening! 04 389 4786. Our Free Soup Friday is starting up again on 12/6/20 12-1pm.
Our Justice of the Peace is not back yet, but we hope they will be soon. There is often one available at Paul Eagle's electorate office - 04 389 0989.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
____________________________
COVID-19 UPDATE: 29/5/2020
As we mentioned in previous communications, we’ll be reviewing our Level 2 guidelines as times goes on, time has gone on – so we’ve reviewed our Level 2 guidelines! The government has announced some changes to gatherings under level 2 – effective from Friday 29th May these can be up to 100 people (from 10). As we hold multiple venues in one premise, each venue is considered a separate space and therefore can have (up to) 100 people in it. Of course, many of our venues only allow a lesser number due to already existing size restrictions.
Here are the changes that we are going to be making whilst still at level 2 - effective from Tuesday 2nd.
• Most of our staff will come back to working at the centre, alongside volunteers.
• We will start to hire our venues for casuals/one-off hires.
• We will allow more groups to be in the premise in differing rooms/venues at the same time, although will still require the group to social distance in hallways and keep the premise locked to the wider public.
• We will allow more than 10 people per group – this will see more of our regular hirers back.
• We will open our drop-in during the mornings only from 9.30am-10.30am. Anyone is welcome to come have a free cup of tea or coffee and a chat. These drinks will be served.
• We will restart our Free Soup Fridays from 12th May with extra health/safety and social distancing protocols in place. Anyone is welcome to come along for a hot yummy bowl and good banter!
Please bear with us, we are really busy – we know everyone wants venue hire and has loads of questions, but we have lots to consider for each booking. We’ll do our best to get back to everyone in a timely fashion, but this may be delayed!
Outside of the Soup Friday, drop-in, people attending classes/workshops and by appointment the doors will remain locked and we are still ‘closed to wider public’.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie, Eryn and the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre whānau
____________________________
COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 2 UPDATE: 12/5/2020
Kia ora,
We’ve made the difficult decision that at Alert Level 2, we will not yet re-open the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre to the public.
The main reason for this is the structure of our building and the large number of different spaces that we have. We don’t believe physical distancing will be effective or possible, and our top priority is always to keep our community and our staff safe and well.
Although we won't have our doors open, a number of our private hirers will be returning over the next weeks, with strict regulations on how they can use the space safely. So if you usually come to a class or group at the Community Centre, contact the person who leads it to see if it’s starting back up again, or email info@newtowncommunity.org.nz to check.
Our staff will continue working from home - we’re really proud of the work that we’ve achieved remotely and we believe that we can continue doing a great job from afar for now.
We will be monitoring the situation closely and making decisions about what comes next for us in the next weeks.
We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors and welcoming the community back, once it’s safe to do so.
Kia kaha Newtown.
Ngā mihi,
Eryn, Ellie & the whole NCCC whānau
____________________________
Community Centre Closure update 23/3/2020:
Kia ora,
We’re sorry to say that we have followed the advice of Wellington City Council and today closed our doors. The health of our communities and our staff are our highest priority and we see this step as essential to stop the spread of the pandemic.
This means Newtown Community & Cultural Centre, Newtown Hall, Network Newtown and SMART Newtown have closed their doors to hirers and visitors. Wellington Timebank and the Newtown Citizens Advice Bureau offices are in the Community Centre and are also closed.
This means that we are not running our drop-in, or our Youth Programme activities in person (including Newtown Holiday Programme and Kids Club at Newtown Park). We’re working on different ways to reach out to our most vulnerable people and young people in the community.
We’re still working, and generally we are looking at creative ways that we can carry on supporting people and building community while maintaining physical distance. We would love to hear any ideas that you have.
Contact details:
Stay up to date – join our e-newsletter mailing list: bitly.com/newtowncontact
Join our new Facebook group for community support: bitly.com/newtowncovid19
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre – 022 422 9838/ info@newtowncommunity.org.nz
Wellington Timebank – info@wellingtontimebank.org.nz
Youth Programme – youth@newtowncommunity.org.nz
Kia kaha – Stay strong Newtown.
Ngā mihi,
Ellie & Eryn
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
Public Statement - updated 20/03/2020
Kia ora Newtown Community Centre visitors.
We wanted to write to you to let you know what we’re doing to prioritise your health and wellbeing (and our own!) in the light of COVID-19 / Coronavirus.
We don’t want panic, but we are acting cautiously to do what we can to prevent a widespread outbreak. We hope you will join us.
What we are doing:
- We are following guidelines from Ministry of Health and Wellington City Council. You will have noted that large gatherings of 100 people indoors/outdoors are being cancelled around the country. As we only have capacity for smaller gatherings, we have been advised that we can remain open for hirers and groups for now. This could change – please be aware that we may cancel bookings with little notice if things change. We’ll do our best to keep you updated as early as we can.
- We’re currently collecting contact details for people who come to our classes and events – this is so we can contact people if we do end up closing, and also to make sure we can let people know if someone unwell comes to the Centre.
- We’re taking care of our staff by supporting them with sick leave – this also takes care of the community. Please be aware that this may mean we’re short-staffed and less able to respond to questions!
- We are not charging any users for last minute cancellations.
- We pride ourselves on having a clean centre – but we’ve asked our cleaners to do additional cleaning such as wiping down light switches and handles.
- We’re providing more cleaning materials and hand-sanitiser for anyone that comes in to use– there is a bucket of cleaning materials available in each of our spaces.
- We have posters around the Centre letting people know what symptoms to look out for, how to avoid spreading illnesses and promoting hand-washing.
- We’re thinking of creative ways that we can deliver some programmes and support our community through this time.
- We’ve created a Facebook group Newtown Covid-19 Community Support Group. You can find it and join at bitly.com/newtowncovid19
- Check Ministry of Health guidelines yourself – make decisions based on their advice.
- Get on our mailing list for updates on our events / potential closure etc – sign up at bitly.com/newtowncontact
- Join our Facebook group where community members can support each other: bitly.com/newtowncovid19
- Do not come to the centre if you are feeling unwell.
- If you have been overseas (except in the Pacific) then self-isolate for 14 days.
- Wash your hands as soon as you come into the centre.
- Use hand-sanitiser of your own, or ours (unless we run out!)
- Use the disinfectant sprays we are providing in each space – wipe down surfaces on arrival and when you leave.
- Always use the dishwasher – please put the dishwasher on if full / unload if clean.
Please get in touch if you have any questions/concerns/comments at all and we’ll be sure to update you all with any changes.
Ngā mihi,
Eryn and Ellie
Kaiwhakahaere / Coordinators
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre