Funding supports fun Christmas crafts at neighbourhood get together

To kickstart Christmas celebrations and lift the spirits of Castle Hill Village after last year’s fires, Carol and her neighbours hosted a gingerbread house making evening with support from the Meet Your Street fund.

Each neighbour received a gingerbread house kitset with icing and lollies for decorating. After decorating, they had dessert and a delicious cheeseboard, before taking their gingerbread houses home to display and taste over the Christmas break.

Carol says it was a great time of year to get everyone together for a fun opportunity to socialise, unwind and create something that brings joy.

She said the creative down time helped strengthen the community and everyone loved the opportunity to let their creativity run wild and bring out their inner child.

“We all needed a creative joyous activity to get Christmas underway, and come together as a group of neighbours who are all too often the first to lend a hand when a need arises. The fund was perfect as it meant the costs didn’t all fall on one person.”

Carol says she can’t wait to host this event annually and is looking forward to more neighbours attending this year’s event.

This is not the first time the village has received funding from Meet Your Street for a community event. Carol says the fund has been a great catalyst over the years to create annual anticipated events in their village.

“This funding really helps to get the ball rolling with bringing community together, without your own pocket taking a repeated hit. We are grateful that this fund is available to assist with material costs for neighbourhood get togethers. It is nice to have this fund to supplement and make events affordable. Thank you to the Council for assisting to facilitate a wonderfully fun night.”

From now until the end of March, communities across Aotearoa are coming together in all sorts of ways for Neighbours Aotearoa 2025. It’s about connecting with the people around us, in whatever way makes sense for your neighbourhood.

Want to get involved? Host a gathering, join an event, or simply take a moment to check in with those nearby. Our Meet Your Street fund offers a subsidy of up to $100 per street to hold your own street gathering.

Find out more: www.selwyn.govt.nz/meetyourstreet