MISSION & STRATEGY

🌟Our Mission

At Nelson Women’s Centre, our mission is simple yet powerful: To support women and non-binary people to thrive, connect, and find strength—within themselves and with one another.

We are a safe, inclusive, and empowering space where women can access support, build community, and celebrate life’s journey—through all of its highs and lows.

Through counselling, advocacy, community activities, and practical support, we aim to reduce isolation and strengthen the resilience of women in our community.

🌱 Our Strategic Priorities

To ensure we continue to serve our community meaningfully and sustainably, we are guided by the following strategic goals:

1. Equity in Access
   We are committed to keeping our services affordable and accessible to all—regardless of financial circumstance, background, or life situation.

2. Holistic Support
   We provide integrated services including counselling, social work, group activities, and community connection to support the whole person.

3. Community-Led Growth
   We listen deeply to the needs of our community, and continually evolve based on feedback, collaboration, and shared wisdom.

4. Sustainable Operations
   We are focused on financial sustainability, fair remuneration for practitioners, and continued investment in the wellbeing of our staff, volunteers, and Centre.

5. Celebration of Diversity
   We honour and reflect the diverse lives, identities, and stories of those who come through our doors.

Together, these pillars form the foundation of a Centre that is resilient, responsive, and rooted in the values of care, connection, and collective strength.  Our strategy guides the way we work, grow, and respond to the needs of our community.

It reflects our commitment to equity, empowerment, and sustainability.

In September 2024, we reviewed and refreshed our strategic plan.  While our vision remains broad and ambitious, we’ve chosen to focus on the areas where we can have the most impact right now—especially given current resourcing challenges, the evolving funding landscape, and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

🌿Strategic Priorities (2024–2026)

Over the next 12–24 months, we are prioritising three key areas of our five-pillar strategy:

1. Improving outcomes for women and whānau
   We aim to strengthen the support, services, and experiences we offer, ensuring they truly meet the needs of our community.

2. Enabling greater collaboration and involvement with other community organisations
   We recognise the power of working together. Building stronger partnerships will help us extend our reach and deepen our impact.

3. Ensuring financial sustainability
   A resilient, well-resourced Centre is essential to continue offering affordable and accessible support services to those who need them most.

The remaining pillars of our strategy will continue to be embedded in our day-to-day work as business as usual.

With this focused approach, we’re building a stronger foundation for the future—one that supports women, uplifts communities, and nurtures lasting change.

Ngā mihi nui