ABOUT US
Introduction to SPiCE - by Evie Ashton
How SPiCE Came to Be
SPiCE began in 2014 when a group of Sandringham residents sought greater community involvement in the renewal of the Sandringham Reserve playground. With funding from the Albert-Eden Local Board, the community developed its own vision, resulting in a redesigned Reserve and playground shaped by local input.
This momentum led to the Sandringham Community Vision Report (2016), outlining the community’s aspirations. Since then, SPiCE has evolved into a champion for community-led projects, advocating for Sandringham’s future and connecting local groups.
In 2018, SPiCE became a community-led development partner with the Department of Internal Affairs, securing funding and support to expand its work. Today, SPiCE continues to empower locals, bringing ideas to life—like the annual floral carpet!
Vision Report
Produced in 2016, the Sandringham Community Vision Report, is a snapshot of what locals want for Sandringham. It is this shared vision that has informed the work of SPiCE. If you would like to contribute to a shared vision for Sandringham going forward, please fill out our Make Sandringham Amazing Survey.
SPiCE began in 2014 when a group of Sandringham residents sought greater community involvement in the renewal of the Sandringham Reserve playground. With funding from the Albert-Eden Local Board, the community developed its own vision, resulting in a redesigned Reserve and playground shaped by local input.
This momentum led to the Sandringham Community Vision Report (2016), outlining the community’s aspirations. Since then, SPiCE has evolved into a champion for community-led projects, advocating for Sandringham’s future and connecting local groups.
In 2018, SPiCE became a community-led development partner with the Department of Internal Affairs, securing funding and support to expand its work. Today, SPiCE continues to empower locals, bringing ideas to life—like the annual floral carpet!
Vision Report
Produced in 2016, the Sandringham Community Vision Report, is a snapshot of what locals want for Sandringham. It is this shared vision that has informed the work of SPiCE. If you would like to contribute to a shared vision for Sandringham going forward, please fill out our Make Sandringham Amazing Survey.
Meet The Team
So, who are SPiCE?
SPiCE (the Sandringham Project in Community Empowerment) is a charitable trust and a registered charity (CC57639) and is run by volunteer trustees who are all local residents of Sandringham. These trustees oversee the strategy and governance of SPiCE and are supported by a wider group of community members through regular meetings, and online discussions and decision making.
Our current Trustees are Helga Arlington, Natasha McCoy, Peter Haynes, Chloe Pope and Sadie Keenan.
They are supported by SPiCE's Community Facilitator Trixi Pavey.
SPiCE (the Sandringham Project in Community Empowerment) is a charitable trust and a registered charity (CC57639) and is run by volunteer trustees who are all local residents of Sandringham. These trustees oversee the strategy and governance of SPiCE and are supported by a wider group of community members through regular meetings, and online discussions and decision making.
Our current Trustees are Helga Arlington, Natasha McCoy, Peter Haynes, Chloe Pope and Sadie Keenan.
They are supported by SPiCE's Community Facilitator Trixi Pavey.
Natasha McCoy TRUSTEE SPiCE provides a great way to be involved in making our fantastic community even better. I have lived in Calgary Street for 13 years and have been with SPiCE its inception. I have really enjoyed being part of a community grass roots approach to make positive things happen in Sandringham. As a DIA CLD partner group we have the awesome opportunity to make projects come to life with their support. Now is a great time to join SPiCE help strengthen and celebrate our community. |
Peter Haynes TRUSTEE |
Helga Arlington TRUSTEE I am delighted that my time as a local board member brought me into contact with the great group of people who stepped up to form SPiCE and to advocate for the local community. We all feel pride at what we achieved for our reserve. Tablecloths even! I warmly recommend SPiCE to anyone who would like to 'belong' more to Sandringham - maybe there are skills or time you have to offer? What would you like to dream up? |
Sadie Keenan TRUSTEE Kia ora, I'm Sadie Keenan. I've been living in Sandringham for the past four years with my partner and two children, and we love the area's rich cultural diversity—something truly unique to Tāmaki Makaurau. Being part of SPiCE has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud of the events we’ve held that bring our community together. I'm passionate about fostering connections and creating a strong, inclusive neighborhood. |
Chloe Pope TRUSTEE I've lived and worked in Sandringham since 2022. I've always been passionate about community and fostering a sense of connection within my neighborhood. I'm proud to be able to work alongside SPiCE and the Sandringham community to continue making this area a wonderful place to live, and celebrate the people who have chosen to make Sandringham their home. |
Trixi Pavey Community Facilitator A passionate community development practitioner with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering inclusive, creative, and community-led initiatives across Aotearoa, Australia and the United Kingdom. Trixi loves collaborating with communities to deliver creative projects that honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, amplify diverse voices, foster connection, and promote wellbeing. |
James Ibell-Roberts Former TRUSTEE Kia ora koutou. I'm Pākehā and tangata Tiriti. I have lived in Aotearoa for about 5 years, after growing up in the UK and spending a decade living and working in Vanuatu. I love being connected within my community, and work in the community and international development spaces. My current mahi is with Taimahi Trust in the disability sector and the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI), and I am also a Trustee with Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ). |
Karel Wöhlnick Former TRUSTEE In 2016 having crossed the ditch, Anne (a Kiwi) and me (Aussie) landed in Sandringham. As newbies, we did what everyone did, attend a SPiCE event at the Sandringham Reserve. It was joyful and fun and we felt welcome. It was enough to throw away my anonymity and volunteer to be part of SPiCE. They're a bunch of really nice people. We are happy to have made Sandringham the place we now call home. |
Rob Richardson Former TRUSTEE Hi, I'm Rob Richardson. I have lived in Sandringham for over 11 years with my partner and two children. I have been involved in SPiCE for four years now and I enjoy seeing our community come together to build an even better place to live, work and play. |
SPiCE's mission and kaupapa
Our mission is simple: to make Sandringham an even more amazing place to live, work and enjoy.
Our kaupapa is equally clear: to give our community a voice and empower our community to shape our future, following the principles of community-led development.
What is community-led development?
Community-led development is a planning and development approach that puts local voices in the lead, builds on local strengths, is intentional and adaptable and works to achieve systemic change. In following the community-led development principles SPiCE is joining neighbourhoods around New Zealand and the world in strengthening the vitality of communities by activating and weaving the contribution of everyone connected to a place to ensure the everyone thrives.
There are five core community-led development principles that guide us and what we do:
This means if you live here, work here, gather here, shop here or play here then we want to talk to you. It also means that if you have an idea or project for the Sandringham community that you'd like some help with – we can help you! Or if you want to do something positive for your community but don't know what that might be? We'd love to hear from you! Everyone is welcome to our come along to our community meetings or join our online discussion and decision-making group. Contact us to find out more.
If you'd like to find out more about community-led development and the CLD principles then please check out Inspiring Communities website.
Community-led development is a planning and development approach that puts local voices in the lead, builds on local strengths, is intentional and adaptable and works to achieve systemic change. In following the community-led development principles SPiCE is joining neighbourhoods around New Zealand and the world in strengthening the vitality of communities by activating and weaving the contribution of everyone connected to a place to ensure the everyone thrives.
There are five core community-led development principles that guide us and what we do:
- Grow from shared local visions
- Build from strengths
- Work with diverse people and sectors
- Grow collaborative local leadership
- Learn by doing
This means if you live here, work here, gather here, shop here or play here then we want to talk to you. It also means that if you have an idea or project for the Sandringham community that you'd like some help with – we can help you! Or if you want to do something positive for your community but don't know what that might be? We'd love to hear from you! Everyone is welcome to our come along to our community meetings or join our online discussion and decision-making group. Contact us to find out more.
If you'd like to find out more about community-led development and the CLD principles then please check out Inspiring Communities website.
