Have you ever wanted to organise a Neighbourhood gathering?  Do you want to get to know the people who live close to you? Perhaps you've always wanted to put on a potluck for the whole street...

Neighbourhood Week is about bringing people closer together, and celebrating the unique and diverse mix of each neighbourhood. A neighbourhood could also be a small group of families at a local kindergarten, play centre, kohanga reo, school, church or a community group who share a common desire to build a strong community together.

 Neighbourhood Week was the brainchild of the Shirley-Papanui Community Board, which held the first event in 1998. Each year, it has grown to the point that it is now being promoted annually by the Christchurch City Council, and nationwide by Neighbourhood Support. The Christchurch Neighbourhood Week Team works closely with Neighbourhood Support.

The City Council has now extended Neighbourhood Week to all summer long, from 27 October 2018 to 31 March 2019, and a small subsidy is available from Christchurch City Council Community Boards to help you organise something in your neighbourhood.

Applications for Neighbourhood Week 2018 are open from 30 July to 7 September. To register, you can either fill out the council's online form or download, complete and return the application form to , or post to Neighbourhood Week, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 73020, Christchurch 8154. Find out more by heading to www.ccc.govt.nz/GetTogether.

If you would like some assistance with planning your Neighbourhood Week event, you are invited to a free "Get Set Go Express" workshop. This will be held on Thursday 6 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, at Fendalton Service Centre, 4 Jeffreys Road. The workshop will focus on a four-step planning process using straight forward planning sheets for budgets, promotions, and health and safety. To register please send your name and contact details to email:  or phone Jacqui Miller on 941 5333.

If you aren't able to attend this workshop but would like some event planning advice, you can contact one of the council's friendly advisers:
Marie Byrne (Community Development Adviser) 941 6502  
Emily Toase (Community Recreation Adviser) 941 5216  
Karla Gunby (Community Development Adviser) 941 6705  

There is also affordable recreation equipment for hire to community organisations. Click here for more details: https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/News-Events/Events/Running-an-event/Event-equipment-for-hire.pdf