FC NELSON COMMUNITY HUB

Something very big and exciting thing is happening at the club over the next couple of months.

Over the last few years, the club has been working hard behind the scenes on a major project for not only us, but also for the community.  This is not just about football, it’s about bringing together many local activities and communities – this will do “wonderful things” for the community.

Currently, the club has no space to belong, other than the aged small changing room facilities that houses two team changing rooms and a referees changing room. A vision was born, and a submission to the Nelson City Council’s Long Term Plan was made in 2019, for a community hub that FC Nelson could develop for use as a club space, but also develop into a local Community Hub.

Following success with this submission, and the council approving funding towards the project, thoughts on ideas and plans were started. Fast forward and 2025 is now the year for action – our vision of rejuvenating our facilities and creating a whole facility that will bring people together is taking shape and becoming a reality.

A drop in facility during the week open as a Community Hub, a ‘go-to’ gathering place where the folk and whānau of Nelson can come together to hang out, have fun and start getting to know each other. Connections are what communities are all about and we are keen to help revitalise the Nelson City area Community.

This will provide a safe, secure positive environment for the members of our football club. The hub will be a place for family and supporters to gather, learn and socialise. Creating such a hub will drive the ongoing sustainability of the club, from progressive, cultural, financial, sociability and sporting success points of view.

Over the last months, this vision has become a reality, and this week the club has purchased a very fit-for-purpose building that in a previous life was a rugby and polo clubrooms.  Over the next 2 weeks building movers will be preparing the building for removal in Blenheim, and on Anzac Day the building will make the journey from Blenheim to Guppy Park by truck.

The council consenting, engineering, site testing and other compliance requirements will then start, with this taking approximately 6 weeks to 2 months to complete.  Once that is completed, the building will be put onto new piles and the work will begin on transforming and improving it.

Watch this space, as we will need the community’s help.  This will come in the form of volunteering your assistance, in-kind contributions, sponsorship, donations – all contributions, no matter how big or small, are valuable in building this hub.

We already have some truly amazing local people and companies on board to help us.

If you would like to be a part of a fantastic project, please see our website for our FC Nelson Community Hub Sponsor/Donor Proposal, or make contact with us at admin@fcnelson.co.nz – there are so many options for sponsorship and donations.