We work with a wide range of social service agencies and can provide a supportive work environment for people with special needs. However we are a small not for profit organisation and our resources for supporting people with disabilities are limited. We are not contracted by any specific entity to provide services for people with disabilities.

For this reason please note the following protocols:

If you have a client interested in volunteering at the Gardens, please first email Christine Blance (Trust Manager) to discuss your client’s needs and our needs. Please accept that we may not be able to take your client for a range of reasons.

Our Volunteer Policy: The CSCGT Board and Management  sets our Volunteering Policy not the Christchurch City Council. If you wish to discuss our volunteering policy – please first email us at info@cscommunitygardens.net.nz.

Indirect referrals: This is when agencies encourage their clients to ‘self -refer’ or make contact with us independent of the agency. These will be treated by us as direct referrals requiring formal involvement of the agency.

We usually require clients of agencies to have support workers or family members with them onsite at all times .

We retain the right to have a trial period and to limit the amount of time that people spend with us.

Misrepresentation: Agency workers visiting the community gardens on an ad hoc basis for the purposes of placing a client are expected to identify themselves and the organisation they are working for.  A business card is ideal. Any attempts to disguise the nature of the client/agency relationship will be regarded as misrepresentation.

We expect to develop a professional relationship between the Agency and the CSCGT. This means that we have:

• Full contact details of the agency and one principle person to liaise with about the client.
• Monthly reviews to discuss client progress