The Teviot Valley is a community with big ideas and now there is an exciting resource opportunity to match!
In August 2015, the Teviot Valley community was successful in gaining a grant of $240,000 through the Department of Internal Affairs Community Development Scheme. This grant, which will be spread over three years, will help support and develop initiatives that upskill and empower the community so that they can be self-reliant and resilient into the future.
Over the three years, project officers will be employed to work alongside community organisations in establishing sustainable long-term outcomes from 'grass-roots' community initiatives.
Jennie Clarke has been appointed as the Teviot Valley Community Development Officer, and started the one-year, part-time position on Tuesday 12 July.
Jennie is an experienced communications and marketing professional with an extensive background in community relations roles. Prior to moving to the Teviot Valley in 2012 she was the Community Relations Manager for MainPower NZ Ltd, based in Christchurch. Key aspects of her role were development and implementation of the company's community activities across the North Canterbury and Kaikoura region, and managing the annual sponsorship budget. She has also held roles as the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Arts Centre of Christchurch and Special Projects Coordinator at the Christchurch Art Gallery. Following the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquakes she held a special fixed term project role with Holmes Consulting Group, developing a support programme for Christchurch-based staff of the international engineering consultancy firm.
Since moving to Roxburgh, she has been self-employed as a freelance writer. She is also a director of the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge trail company.
The first projects lined up for Jennie are to look at raising the profile of cycle trails in the valley and to develop a programme for seasonal worker integration into the community.
Teviot Valley Community Development Scheme governance group spokesperson Russell Marsh said members were ''delighted to have someone of Jennie's calibre working alongside the governance group and wider community” as they looked to develop sustainable models for the key projects identified as part of the Internal Affairs funding.
“Jennie's experience in working closely with other resource challenged communities throughout the South Island will mean she will be an ideal fit here in the Teviot Valley as we strive to further enhance our reputation as a destination."'
Other key project that the Scheme will focus on are to understand and utilise digital technology, create destination events from ‘grass roots’ community initiatives and celebrate Teviot Valley’s heritage values.