PHOTO
More than 30 charities from across South Canterbury have issued a clear message: community need is rising and frontline services are under increasing pressure to keep up.
The concerns were shared during the Aoraki Foundation’s annual Recipients Roundtable, where charities, the foundation’s distribution committees and a small panel of donors gathered to discuss what they were seeing in their work and how the region could respond.
A central theme emerging from the discussion was a growing strain on basic needs — food, housing, health care and connection — affecting a wider cross-section of the community than ever before.
"Across our sector, we are seeing the greatest needs every day," one participant said.
"Support is being stretched thinner, while demand continues to grow."
Charities reported a noticeable increase in isolation and loneliness, alongside a decline in community connection that was once a hallmark of the region.
Rising living costs are also driving more families into hardship, with growing demand for foodbanks, affordable housing and essential support services.
"We are seeing poverty increase not just in money, but in time, food security and overall wellbeing," another organisation said.
Access to healthcare — particularly GPs and after-hours services — was also identified as a significant concern, with cost and availability putting care out of reach for some residents.
At the same time, charities highlighted the pressure they faced as demand increased.
Many organisations are stepping in to fill gaps left by stretched public services, often without recognition or sufficient resources.
"NGOs are increasingly acting as the stop-gap," a participant said.
"The need is still there and growing, but the support around us is eroding."
Aoraki Foundation gift and community adviser Kirsty Burnett said the roundtable created space for honest conversations grounded in frontline experience.
"We asked where the greatest needs are in our community and how we can respond in meaningful and lasting ways," she said.
"What stood out was the depth of insight from those working on the ground every day — people who see both the challenges and the opportunities to make a difference."
Despite the challenges, the overall tone remained collaborative and forward-looking, with organisations emphasising stronger partnerships and better resourcing as key to meeting future demand.
The roundtable reinforced the importance of listening to those closest to the issues, ensuring funding and support were guided by real community experience.
The roundtable was an important part of the funding accountability process, where 30 organisations, for 2025-26, came together, representing the distribution of $170,000. — Allied Media