Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The Downtown Community Ministry

This is what we found out about the Downtown Community Ministry after our first meeting with David on Tuesday.

Who are the Downtown Community Ministry

The Downtown Community Ministry is a social service organisation which operates from inner city Wellington. We are concerned with addressing issues for disadvantaged people in Wellington and provide support and advocacy for those in need in the inner city.

Those who access our services frequently have backgrounds of homelessness and/or drug, alcohol or gambling addictions. Many carry personal debt and some have a criminal history.

Three key programmes have been developed to address these issues:
- Project Margin locates suitable hous-ing and assists people to remain housed,
- the Street People Project offers a banking service with total money management;
- the Food Bank provides necessary food items, referrals to other appropriate services and identifies the factors contributing towards food bank use.

More recently, we are responding to the ‘culture of hopelessness’ common within our client group by developing personal development plans and assisting clients into training or work opportunities, such as obtaining their drivers licence, reading and writing or simply creating a CV.

When did you start?

In 1969 amidst global war and radical social change in New Zealand, Downtown Community Ministry (or Inner City Ministry – as it was first known) was born. As a child of the 60’s, DCM began with a strong belief that we all have a responsibility to address the pressing issues of the day. Over the years a proud history has developed of engaging in social issues, advocating for change and supporting those in need.

Who are your key employees?

The DCM is run by a Board, our director is Stephanie McIntyre. We have 5 social workers; two work on our housing project, two work on our banking project and one works on advocacy. We also have a treasurer and a communication/events coordinator. We have a practise of employing clients who are in a position to step into paid work as an opportunity for them to learn the skills needed to hold down a paid job. DCM’s annual Book Fair and food appeals see up to 150 volunteers working with us to make these projects successful.

How are you funded?

The DCM is mainly funded by Central and Local Government grants, but a significant part of our funding comes from fund raising events such as their annual book fair which raised around $100,000 last year.

It is worth noting that DCM made the decision over five years ago to not seek or receive funds from the proceeds of gambling. This decision comes at a cost as lots of community trusts are funded via the gambling industry. DCM however could not with any integrity receive funds from the same industry that detrimentally affects the health and well being of many DCM clients.

What is your main purpose, vision, mission?

Wellington is a community in which collective responsibility and interdependence
and the valuing of diversity are seen as the keys to a fair and just society.

DCM works to make a difference in Wellington through:

* advocacy for social and political change
* providing practical assistance and advocacy for people in need
* developing new services and projects for people in need
* Working with others to find long term solutions to problems of poverty and
social exclusion.

Who are your target audience?

The Downtown Community Ministry serves two groups of people;

1. People who need our services (all ages, but mainly people who come from a low social economic background).
- Beneficiaries
- People who do not have stable homes.
- People who have recently been released from prison.
- People who are in need of essential necessities to survive.
- People who need to find direction in their lives.
- People who are affected by gambling, alcohol and drug abuse.
- People who are in trouble with the law.

2. People who support us (generally the age of people in this TA are aged 35 and over. We would like to broaden this age group to also include the 20- 35 age bracket).
- Donators
- Volunteers
- Various government agencies.
- people who share the same vision.

What are the main challenges you face?

Trying to find funding to adequately provide the services we offer are always a
challenge. Most of the funding we receive go towards our main projects and services; there is little left over to put into other areas like marketing, branding, design. This is an area where we would like to improve on but finding the necessary funding to do so is very difficult. This makes the money received through donations and fundraising all the more important.

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