Everything Selwyn website launched
Selwyn District Council media release: 31st May 2018
A group of community agencies in Selwyn have launched a one-stop shop with information on everything residents and newcomers need to know about the district - supported by the Council.
The Everything Selwyn website will become a comprehensive online directory of services in the Selwyn district, offering information about everything from local schools and sports teams to special interest groups and events. It also provides practical information for those new to Selwyn and New Zealand, including information about banking, the IRD and health care.
Selwyn District Council’s Community Development Advisor Jason Flewellen says Everything Selwyn is an easily accessible community database for anything of interest to Selwyn residents, those who have been here a while, as well as those brand new to the area. “The website is a go-to for the community to find out the latest information, and also let others know about their own events and services. Adding a listing is super easy and free,” he says.
The concept for the website was developed out of the research findings from the Selwyn District Council’s Migrants and Newcomers Strategy. It was identified that those new to the district have no single point of contact where community information is easily and readily accessible. Migrants and newcomers, and current residents, will benefit from connecting more closely through the website. Those without internet can also access the website at Selwyn District Libraries.
The website has been developed by Council in conjunction with Selwyn’s four community care groups: Ellesmere Community Care Organisation, Lincoln and Districts Community Care, Selwyn Central Community Care, and Malvern Community Care. These groups will help promote, maintain and moderate listings as administrators of the website.
Beverley Elder of the Malvern Community Care Group says Everything Selwyn will enable all newcomers to Selwyn to learn about the area. “It’s exciting that anyone will be able to access information about Selwyn online, all in one place. The website means even those who live in Selwyn but work out of district, have the opportunity to get involved and have community contact. Everybody can be linked in. I love that the Community Care groups are there as a gate-keeper, to encourage the community to be involved and contribute. The more people use the website, the more useful it will be as a constant flow of information to help people find what they are looking for,” Mrs Elder says.
Members of the Selwyn community are encouraged to upload their own events and services, to populate the website. Anyone can upload information after registering to the site with their name, email address and a password.
The website is grouped into various helpful sections including: township information, amenities, arts culture and heritage, churches and celebrants, community and special interest, education, health and wellbeing, and sport and exercise.