How The CHS Life Centre Turns Venue Hire into Community Empowerment
Venue hire can often be seen as a transaction more than anything else. The simple exchange of space for cash. At the CHS Life Centre, we flip that on its head, making ‘venue hire’ an instrumental tool for community empowerment and collaborative development.
These days innovation is a key principle, and it goes beyond just technology. For us, it’s about being actively involved in our local communities, and finding new ways to bridge the gap between people from all walks of life. We believe that if we can contribute to that kind of connection, we may stand the chance of bringing healing, restoration and justice into our immediate communities, the nation and even possibly beyond it.
When people come together in unity, amazing things happen - which is why we value community. What better way to bring people together than to offer a space for that to happen? We believe in venue hire that uplifts our community.
We are here to create positive social impact, foster community engagement, and support local initiatives. At the CHS Life Centre, we are redefining the purpose and potential of shared spaces to the greater community benefit, and here’s how.
The Role of Venue Hire in Community Empowerment
As mentioned, venue hire at CHS Life Centre goes beyond traditional business models. We serve as a catalyst for community empowerment by creating the space needed for events and get-togethers that allow room for growth, learning, connection and collaboration. Through our partnerships and planning we have seen through the past year how this uplifts individuals and surrounding communities (such as, Kirstenhof, Westlake, Lakeside and Capricorn) creating opportunities for positive social impact and change.
Supporting Local Initiatives
One of the most significant ways this happens is by supporting local initiatives. We collaborate with organisations and community groups to host events and programs that address social issues, provide education, and offer resources. We provide everything needed to host, with facilities that are accessible and affordable.
We’ve seen our partners host workshops on financial literacy, job training, and mental health awareness to name just a few. These initiatives equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to improve their lives and contribute positively to society.
Fostering Community Engagement
Community engagement is a core aspect of our mission as we work towards impacting all seven spheres of society. We use our amazing venue to bring people together, creating a sense of belonging and connection. Events hosted at the venue often include community festivals, art exhibitions, and cultural celebrations, all of which encourage participation and interaction among diverse groups. Together with an open invitation to join the Church of the Holy Spirit every Sunday morning too, as well as access to various life groups to foster deeper relationships, personal and spiritual growth.
Through events, community members have the opportunity to connect with one another, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. This sense of community is such an important part of our mission to empower, equip and allow people to genuinely feel accepted and part of something, no matter where they come from.
Providing a Safe and Inclusive Space
A vital component of community empowerment is providing a safe and inclusive space for all individuals. An example of how this organically happened recently is the housing of some of our unhoused neighbours in the building to shelter them from Cape Town storms. In partnership with U-turn, we were able to provide warmth, comfort and a place to stay (including a shower and a warm meal). This touches even the hardest heart, as it’s really a way for us to reach out and support those around us. We are reflecting on this and praying and thinking how we could continue a temporary pop up shelter in such terrible weather.
We’re committed to creating an environment where people feel welcome and valued.
The way the venue is designed accommodates people with disabilities too with a lift up to the main auditorium space. Moms can bring their prams upstairs to the cry room during big events. We welcome diverse cultural backgrounds and age groups. By doing this, we aim to empower the marginalised groups in the area, giving them a voice and a place to gather, share, and grow. Below are some examples of amazing programs run at the Life Centre.
Job Journey
We’ve partnered with local educational organisations to host a series of workshops focused on empowering people through work-readiness education and access to finding work. These workshops cover topics such as leadership development, entrepreneurship, and self-confidence building.
Job Journey is an amazing way for us to offer those with diverse backgrounds to access resources and support that empower them to pursue personal and professional growth. We’ve received amazing feedback from those who have come through the program as well as increased confidence, improved skills, and a greater sense of community belonging. Thobelani is our resident Community Development worker, and he’d love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved.
Limitless Movement: Arts and Culture for Social Change
Another awesome example of venue hire in action is the collaboration with local artists and cultural organisations to host art exhibitions and performances. We recently hosted the Kirstenhof Creative Meander, offering local entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell and share their gifts, talents and products too. The Limitless Movement crew are also one of our closest collaborators, genuinely making a difference through dance, performance and creative expression.These organisations not only showcase local talent but also address social issues such as inequality, discrimination, and environmental awareness.
Through art, community members engage with important topics, sparking conversations and inspiring action. The CHS venue provides a space for artists to share their work and for the community to come together, nurturing a culture of empathy, understanding, and empowerment.
Mental Health Awareness
Recognising the importance of mental health, we have mental health professionals and organisations who host awareness campaigns and support groups inside the building. These cater to various age groups from kids, adults and beyond. We are all about providing a real safe space for individuals to learn about mental health, share their experiences, and access the support they need to thrive.
By facilitating these kinds of tenants, events and more, we believe we play an important role in reducing stigma and promoting mental well-being within the community. Many attendees have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and to receive the support they need.
The Economic Impact
In addition to the undeniable social benefits we nurture our sense of economic impact as well. By hosting many unique types of events and activities, we have found that the venue naturally attracts visitors to the area (especially also because of The Table Cafe), benefiting local businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and shops as well as our tenants too. This influx of visitors supports the local economy and creates opportunities for entrepreneurship and job creation as well.
Book Your Next Event At The Life Centre!
We ask for you to join hands with us as we continue to explore the potential of venue hire for community empowerment, upliftment and positive social impact. The possibilities really are limitless and we are here for it all. To schedule a tour visit our website, or to find out more about our venue hire or other amazing opportunities to get involved give us a call or pop us an email via the website.
