Person presenting at talk in front of crowd

Age Concern Canterbury Chief Executive Greta Bond welcomes the visitors to the Volunteer Expo in Rolleston on Wednesday. Photo credit: Kathryn Taylor.

The Selwyn District Council and Age Concern Canterbury yesterday opened the doors of the new Older Persons Hub in Rolleston to offer a variety of services to the district’s older generations.

The former library space at the Rolleston Community Centre had already been used as a Youth Hub by Selwyn’s youth, but on weekday mornings it will now also be used to support older people.

On Wednesday, the Older Persons Hub was launched at the inaugural Volunteer Expo, which highlighted the incredible impact volunteer roles can have on the district, including our youth and ageing population.

“We are very proud and grateful that Age Concern Canterbury has stepped into this opportunity to create an Older Persons Hub which is a wonderful and tangible result from the Te Paepae Ageing Well strategy the Council adopted last year,” says Denise Kidd, Executive Director Community Facilities and Services.

“Community feedback showed a strong need for better support and services for the older generations to make Waikirikiri Selwyn District a great place for them to age.”

Kidd points out that the Council has also adopted Pika Amokura Youth Strategy to cater for the younger generation.

“Selwyn is growing fast which requires more support and services for young and old, as well as places to meet. We hope that the Rolleston Community Centre will become that place for older persons in the mornings and younger people in the afternoons,” says Kidd.

The Older Persons Hub will be run by Age Concern Canterbury and be open from 9am-noon each weekday.

Charlie Hudson from Age Concern Canterbury says the hub will be a place for ageing residents to learn about the available services, ask for support or just come in for a cup of tea.

“People might be surprised about the long list of services we offer, from community health and home visits to elder abuse support, social outings and a variety of courses,” says Hudson.

The Youth Hub has been running since 2023, with over a dozen organisations offering support, services and events for the district’s young people.

Kidd says that the feedback from the partner organisations has been positive and encouraging.

“The organisations have told us that the foresight of the Council to establish and provide this environment at the Youth Hub is second to none, and the Council is at the forefront of putting the needs of young people at Waikirikiri Selwyn in one site fully accessible to all,” says Kidd.

People gather for photo in front of table

The Age Concern Canterbury team at the Volunteer Expo in Rolleston. Photo credit: Kathryn Taylor.

Last modified: 04 Apr 2025 9:38am