Hearing From Those Who Keep our Community Ticking

SnapBACK Gym provides a safe and supportive space for young people who are struggling with mainstream education and may be at risk of involvement with the justice system. Supporting rangatahi throughout the Manawatū region, SnapBACK Gym operates a 10-week mentoring programme teaching core values and life skills through fitness. “The difference is we dig deeper,” SnapBACK Gym staff said, sharing real-life examples with Council and reinforcing how they support rangatahi by understanding their individual situations and the factors that shape them. Within the annum, 1,058 youth from across the region were involved in the programme, with a completion rate of 92%. The client response has been overwhelmingly positive, as 97% of youth who completed the programme have not come to Police’s attention post completion, and 99% of survey respondents agreed they felt able to make positive life choices after engaging with the programme.

Te Manawa Family Services work one-on-one with parents and caregivers to support positive, informed parenting decisions. Established in Feilding in 2000 in response to a lack of coordinated family services, the team continues to work alongside parents, caregivers, and their children, supporting families to be “connected, nurtured and valued”. Their programmes have recently been redeveloped to include a new ‘Kids Connect’ initiative delivered through sports-based learning, alongside a ‘Parent Connect’ programme that builds skills for supporting children with trauma through bespoke therapy. Within the annum, Te Manawa Family Services worked with 47 active clients, delivered 71 one-on-one sessions, engaged with 16 families and delivered 65 programme sessions. Their mahi continues to be appreciated by the community, as 100% of clients who completed their survey agreed their relationship with their child has improved resulting from the programme, and 100% agreed they learnt new parenting skills.

Feilding and District Art Society make it their mission to foster participation and enrich Feilding through visual arts. With a hardworking team of 50 volunteers and two staff, their “momentum is building” as the society has made strides towards increasing their reach. Within the annum, 231 artists exhibited and 14 exhibitions were held. Through advertising and promotion, the society is pushing their high-profile art, seeing visitors come from far and wide to experience their exhibitions. From July 2024 to June 2025, the Feilding gallery welcomed 9,586 visitors through their doors, some travelling from Palmerston North, Wellington, and even as far as Australia, San Francisco, England and Scotland! Feilding and District Art Society is elevating their reputation, with 303 members (and growing), attracting a variety of visitors and seeing 100% of survey respondents agreeing they would recommend the gallery as a place to visit.

Council is proud to support SnapBACK Gym, Te Manawa Family Services and Feilding and District Art Society through the Community Development Priority Services Fund, appreciating their mahi as unsung heroes that help keep the Manawatū District ticking.

MDC’s Community Development Priority Services Fund supports non-profit organisations who enhance community well-being, create a sense of belonging and foster social equity. To learn more about the Community Development Priority Services Fund, please visit MDC’s website: Community Development Fund | Manawatū District Council