About Us – Neighbourhood Trust

Vision

A vibrant connected community where every person reaches their God-given potential.

Mission

To transform lives by giving hope for the future, and respecting the unique mana of each person from a Christian perspective.

Purpose

Neighbourhood Trust is the community arm of St Albans Baptist Church. Our purpose is to partner in transforming lives to bring out the God-given treasure in us all.

Our Values

People matter: personal worth, respect
Walking alongside: empowerment, equipping
Making lasting connections: whanau

Our History

Neighbourhood Trust was formed in 1999 as the community arm of the St Albans Baptist Church to serve the Mairehau, St Albans, and Shirley communities in Christchurch.

Our collaborative programmes, classes, and initiatives help to strengthen and create connections, provide support, and build on strengths.

Whether it is parents needing after school child care; elderly residents seeking companionship; or newcomers and migrants wanting to build new connections or improve their English – our dedicated staff and volunteers work to facilitate and build a sense of community. Ultimately, we want to give people hope for the future.

Neighbourhood Trust was actively involved in the community following the February 2011 earthquakes. We worked with the Papanui/Innes Community Board to distribute information around the St Albans, Mairehau, Shirley and Richmond areas, and hosted the Towards Recovery series. The series was held to bring community groups together to share their earthquake stories and priorities for the recovery such as home heating; transport; access to services and information; and sharing community spaces.

In 2014, Neighbourhood Trust established the Pay It Forward store as a community development and social enterprise business.

We also keep the Mairehau community well informed through our monthly publication: The Mairehau.