Community Link: Three Workshops, One Goal – Thriving Rural Communities
Community Link is Upper Clutha’s one-stop shop for support and connection, offering services across the full welfare spectrum. From running the Upper Clutha Foodbank to providing wellbeing support and bridging the gap between government and community agencies, Community Link’s mission is to ensure everyone in the region has the opportunity to thrive.
The organisation supports people through challenging times, whether that means providing someone to talk to, assistance with energy costs or food support, or arranging transport to health appointments locally and in Dunedin. Practical services include JP appointments, immigration support, and face-to-face access to Inland Revenue. Whatever the challenge, Community Link works to make life easier and more connected.
Guided by the belief that every person in the Upper Clutha should be able to live their best life, Community Link collaborates with local organisations to deliver programmes that strengthen families, champion youth and seniors, and foster community resilience.
Thanks to a Rural Development and Wellbeing Grant from the Wānaka A&P Foundation, Community Link is now planning and delivering Grow Us Well, a series of three tailored workshops designed specifically for rural teams. These 3–4 hour sessions take participants on a collective wellbeing journey, helping them identify their unique strengths and offering practical frameworks to build personal and community resilience.
Topics include Te Whare Tapa Whā, growth mindset, positive psychology, and managing the inner critic, all delivered in a relaxed, down-to-earth environment. Each workshop encourages reflection, sparks meaningful conversation, and forges stronger connections, adding another layer of wellbeing support across rural workplaces and communities.
General Manager Kate Murray brings her own rural background and deep understanding of community needs to the initiative, ensuring it remains relevant, practical, and truly local. With the support of the Wānaka A&P Foundation, Community Link aims to create a ripple effect of wellbeing that strengthens whānau, workplaces, and the wider Upper Clutha community.
Find Community Link at 34 McDougall Street, Wanaka, phone 03 443 7799, or visit www.communitylink.nz