Plans for ‘cluster’ accommodation

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33399, 4 December 1973, Page 6

Plans for ‘cluster’ accommodation

“Cluster'’ plan accomodation provided by the Y.W.C.A. in Christchurch is envisaged by the national president of the association (Mrs Margaret Cotterill). She would like to see a local project started for it and supported by the Community.

The modern plan provides bed-sitting rooms, kitchen, dining and toilet facilities for several groups of seven to nine girls in one building. Two or three resident directors (matrons), depending on the number of girls living there, would be available for counselling or to assist the girls adjust to city life.

WAITING LIST The Y.W.C.A. in Rotorua has the first new building designed for “cluster” living. It now has 28 residents,, and the waiting list is so, long twice that number could be accommodated if room were available. In Wanganui and Gore existing Y.W.C.A. hostelshave been converted to the. modern plan and a new: building is “on the drawing board” for Whangarei, according to Mrs Cotterill. Mrs Cotterill was in Christchurch yesterday as the association's buildings adviser, an office she has held for about eight years, rather than as its national president. She met the local Y.W.C.A. advisory board, an architect and the board of management to discuss future plans for hostel accommodation and for financing lit.

GIRLS’ PREFERENCE “From our brief experience in New Zealand and a much longer one overseas, we know that ‘cluster’ accommodation is preferred and appreciated by the girls,” she said. “It gives I them a sense of freedom and : opportunities to develop I housekeeping skills, buying and budgeting, which are valuable parts of any girl’s education.”

There are also advantages in administration. Fewer staff members are needed as “clusters” are repeated throughout one building. “The cost of erecting such a building is comparable to that of the traditional type of hostel, as standard domestic equipment is used rather than the more expensive commercial equipment required for catering for big numbers of residents.” The Christchurch Y.W.C.A. has had a long history of successful achievement, largely due to community support, she said.

“With the continuation of this support and interest 1 am sure the need for additional accommodation for girls coming to Christchurch to live and work will be met,” she said. Mrs Cotterill would like to see it provided under the “cluster” plan. “This plan is one the Y.W.C.A. ' of Great Britain has developed successfully during the last few years, after much research and planning with young people themselves,” she said. The age of girls given; this type of accommodation ; ranges from 16 to 23 years. I

“And because the Y.W.C.A. is concerned for the total welfare of young

people, the policy is to have matrons who care for the girls and are available at all times to counsel and help them adjust, as is often necessary. during the early years of living in a city.” As far as Mrs Cotterill knows, the Y.W.C.A. is the first organisation in New Zealand to use “cluster” accommodation. though it is now being planned for university students in New Zealand and abroad. LONG ASSOCIATION Mrs Cotterill has been associated with the Y.W.C.A. since 1936. She went to Canada in 1948 and attended the school of social work at the University of Toronto. She joined the staff of the Y.W.C.A. of Canada and was appointed supervisor of rec--reation in farm service camps, a wartime project which was continued for several years after the end of the Second World War. I For a time she was on the staff of Children's Aid. Ottawa, as a social worker. Mrs Cotterill has also; served the Y.W.C.A. as a: i staff member and voluntary I worker in the United States and Britain. Back in New Zealand she became executive director of th'e Wellington branch before she; joined the national body as 'a voluntary worker in 1962.