Combined home for social service groups in Stratford | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

WORK is shortly to commence in Stratford on Community House, a new building on Juliet St that will house many of the town’s social services organisations.
Neil Volzke, chair of the Stratford Community House Trust, said the project has been two years in the making.
“The idea is to consolidate local social service organisations under one roof,” he said.
“At present some locals have to travel to New Plymouth or Hawera for some services; some of these, including several counselling services, will move into the new facility when it is finished.”
The Stratford Community Food Bank, Stratford Youth Trust and the Anglican Church office have their names down to use the building and over 20 other organisations have sent in letters of intent to take part.
Mr Volzke said the total cost of the project is about $400,000. The Department of Internal Affairs has granted $200,000, Taranaki Electricity Trust has given $150,000 and other grants are making up the balance. There will be no funding from council.
“It will be a no-frills building but good to work in,” said Mr Volzke.
“Similar community houses around the country work well and it will be an asset to the community for the foreseeable future.”
Mr Volzke said is it ideal for small organisations that may only meet one a week or once a month.
Some other local clubs and organisations apart from social service groups may be able to use the building.
Work on the new building will start in early July after the present house on the section, next to the Anglican Church, is removed next month.
The new building will be 260 square metres in size with 10 offices and a meeting room.
The organisations using the facility will have lockers and book times and days for meetings etc.
They will share a photocopier and computer and there will be an administrator working in the building whose services they can use.
Mr Volzke said the groups will be paying minimal rent and the trust is not out to make a profit.
The existing house on the section will be removed next month and the trust will be paying a peppercorn rental to the Anglican Church, which owns the land.
The food bank is at present using the old Methodist church by the PAC Centre until the new building is completed.
It is expected the new building will be completed and ready for use by December.