Sustainability for community organisations

Welcome to the Sustainability How-to Guide. This guide lists selected resources for building and strengthening organisational sustainability in voluntary and community groups. By organisational sustainability we mean the capacity of an organisation to constantly renew itself and to keep working effectively for its members or clients.

It is arranged in four areas: Economic, Human, Natural and Review and Renewal. You'll find these four areas under the resource types - News, Email Lists, Resources - in the left hand menu.

Start with the Introduction and work from there.

Your help in developing this guide is essential.  If you come across resources, websites, case studies or news, please email details to: information@community.net.nz .

We are grateful to Kate Drury for her help in creating this guide.

 

News   (Go to full list of 6 items)

• The Sustainability Society - 5th International Conference

  The Sustainability by design conference will be held at The University of Auckland, 27 - 30 November 2012. The conference is about design – urban design, building design, infrastructure design - and, not least, about systems, product and technology design. It’s about mobility and resources, and the liveability of cities of the future.
  Date added: 2 December 2011

• Emergency procedures vital to community groups

  How will your organisation stay in operation in the event of a disaster? How will you access information about your staff and volunteers, your beneficiaries, and your supplies and assets, in order to maintain continuity and keep operating?
  Date added: 25 October 2011

• Study of Sustainable Community Movements released

  An overview of key global and New Zealand movements promoting and experimenting with being sustainable communities has been released.
  Date added: 8 July 2011

Full List

Resources   (Go to full list of 4 items)

• Natural resources

  This part of the guide shows how you can: reduce carbon emissions, conduct a waste audit, reduce use of energy/use renewable energy, deal with hazardous substances, use water wisely, and recycle.
  Date updated: 15 December 2011

• Human (People) resources

  Human resources topics include capacity building, networking, cultural sustainability, sustaining boards and committees, as well as volunteers and staff.
  Date updated: 15 December 2011

• Economic resources

  Most groups strive towards economic sustainability, especially in terms of sustainable funding or self-resourcing. These resources give ideas and practical ways on how to achieve this.
  Date updated: 15 December 2011

Full List

Case Studies   (Go to full list of 4 items)

• Human case studies

  Scroll down for Human case studies
  Date updated: 16 May 2011

• Natural case studies

  Scroll down for Natural case studies
  Date updated: 8 April 2010

• Economic case studies

  Scroll down for selected Economic case studies
  Date updated: 8 April 2010

Full List

Email Lists

• All e-mail lists

  Scroll down for sites offering email updates and networking opportunities.
  Date updated: 20 June 2006

Websites   (Go to full list of 4 items)

• Economic sustainability websites

  This page shows useful websites on social business and funding information.
  Date added: 28 March 2006

• Human sustainability websites

  This page shows useful websites on human resource (people) sustainability.
  Date added: 20 June 2006

• Natural sustainability websites

  The page links to environmental sustainability websites. We've listed two types of websites: those with practical guides and those giving a big picture overview.
  Date added: 4 June 2009

Full List