About Us

The Birkdale College and Community Pool Trust, was set up to operate the community swimming pool built in grounds of the Birkdale (Birkenhead) College by the previous local authority Birkenhead City Council. The need for this facility was identified by the authority and its local community of the day, and the funds that were raised to build came from all quarters of the community including the local authority and education board. In 1982 the local authority and the Birkdale College and Community Pool Trust became the first public/community partnership with a contract to receive suitable funds to operate the free community facility for summer months. The other supporting partner was the Birkenhead College BOT.

In 1986 the former local authority took the opportunity to place a community and recreation advisor position in the local community through a contract for service partnership with the Birkdale College and Community Pool Trust . This position would provide an advisory support role to local communities, organise community activities and events and manage the community swimming pool. The position today is well known as the Community Co-ordinator. The position would also secure suitable public/private sponsorship in which to provide a platform of substantial and sustainable activities and events.

A working name change was also undertaken at this time for the Trust becoming the Birkenhead Community Facilities Trust and in 1994 a new trust deed being formed in partnership with the North Shore City Council with the registered name The Birkenhead Community Facilities Trust but working under the name of Birkenhead Northcote Community Facilities Trust.

The Trust continues today as a service provider on contract with North Shore City Council, for the Community Co-ordinator position but relies on achieving community/public partnership sponsorship to facilitate the delivery of the identified key projects and community activities to meet community needs. The pool contract was returned to North Shore City Council when it was identified that the community should not be operating a community water facility into days climate, noting also that the use of the facility at that time had decreased dramatically.

The Trust is a charitable Trust, the Trust is autonomous, non-profit and tax exempt and it continues to be governed by a board of trustees whom are regulated by the trust deed and daily operations are managed by the community co-ordinator.

The Birkenhead Northcote Community Co-ordinator provides key co-ordination of services to the community of Birkenhead and Northcote of the Harbour Ward. Through facilitating communities or individuals and the designing or implementing actions that solve problems by emphasising shared leadership and partnerships to increase active community participation.

Birkenhead Northcote Community Facilities Trust does not have a funding capacity, but plays a lead role in its community of interest.

• fostering the identity of Birkenhead and Northcote and community cohesion
• capacity building in sectors of community
• providing co-ordination and co-operation within communities
• increasing community participation through events and opportunities for volunteers
• promoting Birkenhead and Northcote as a vibrant community
• promoting community wellness through community development principals in all operations and activities.
• developing a crime free community through local projects and initiatives.
• ensuring communities are networked.

Community organisations have the power to tangibly improve population health and wellbeing. What's good for individuals and what's good for the community is the same thing. Those with the most social connectiveness ie; those who have a high level of participation in social and community organisations and their networks, have higher opportunities of health and wellbeing. Community groups are the engines that drive our ability to change behaviour, reduce offending, expand community involvement and innovate change.

The Trust office is currently situated at Northcote War Memorial Hall 2 Rodney Road Northcote Point.