What s happening at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre. OCTOBER 2016 Open Monday to Friday 9am-3pm Ph: 02 4285 3055 Welcome to the BNC newsletter. We have had an exciting time this month with a couple of new programs and some exciting new initiatives taking off. TAFE has come to Bellambi. The Illawarra TAFE has commenced a fifteen week Certificate II in Skills for Work and Training at the Centre. Students are studying a variety of units as well as enjoying a fully catered lunch prepared by our fabulous volunteers each Tuesday. The Homework club has been attracting more and more students ranging from primary to high school age each week. The young people spend time doing homework or just studying with the support of our vibrant team of volunteers and share a nutritious afternoon tea. Bingo has been a very popular addition to the community lunch day with more and more people joining us each Wednesday from 10.45am to have some fun before lunch. One of our fabulous volunteers has introduced a monthly birthday cake for all the people having a birthday that month. This month we celebrated 4 September birthdays. If your birthday falls in October make sure you come along to the community lunch on October 19th and celebrate your special day with the rest of our community. A big thank you to our volunteer Glenn for organising this. Some of you may have noticed the Vinnies Food Van parked at the Centre on a Friday evening. The wonderful team from Vinnies are now coming out once a week to share a hot meal, tea, coffee and hot chocolate with families. Come along between 5pm and 6pm and meet Saphire, Peter and the team. The Illawarra Food Hub Bellambi The Bellambi Community Shop is closing but don t despair. BNC is entering into an exciting new partnership with the Illawarra Food Hub. Over the next two weeks we will be remodelling the old shop, re training shop volunteers and introducing brand new stock into our new shop. Come along on Friday OCTOBER 14 th for the grand opening of the ILLAWARRA FOOD HUB BELLAMBI! After the opening the shop will be open Monday s to Thursday s from 9am 12noon
Volunteer news Firstly we d like to welcome a number of new volunteers to the Neighbourhood Centre. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do and contribute their time, passion, skills and energy to the many programs we deliver. Without our volunteers we would not be able to deliver the wide variety of services we have on offer. We THANK our volunteer staff from the bottom of our hearts for all the work they do at the centre! If you, or anyone you know, would like to come along and join our vibrant volunteer team please come in and have a chat to us and we ll see what program would suit you and your skills. Volunteer training We are now offering training in a variety of different areas. Nine volunteers undertook their Food Safety training and five gained their Food Safety Supervisor certificates in September. In coming months we will be offering first aid and fire warden training to some of our volunteers. We will also be offering workshops on healthy menu planning for the volunteers who work on our breakfast and lunch programs. We will continue to offer training that meets the needs of the people who are helping our community. We now have a new volunteer coordinator who is working tirelessly to coordinate all the volunteers and ensure that we meet the needs of our community through volunteer engagement. Become a member of BNC Members of Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre Inc. can support the running of the neighbourhood centre by attending members meetings, joining the board and supporting the organisation in a number of different ways. If you would like to nominate for membership please contact the manager for more information. We welcome new members.
The Program this month Any activities marked with * do not run in the school holidays. These events will restart the week commencing Monday 10 th October SCHOOL KIDS BREAKFAST 7.30 8.30am Monday to Friday * School kids and parents are welcome to pop in for breakfast before school so you can start your day with lots of energy. You can also grab a sandwich and some fruit for lunch! COMMUNITY LUNCH 11.30 12.30 every Wednesday * with BINGO from 10.45 to 11.15* Come and join us for a delicious two-course lunch prepared by our partners at the Illawarra Food Hub and served by our wonderful volunteers. Meet your neighbours, make new friends & share some great food. EIPP YOUTH & FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES Monday to Thursday 8am 3pm We provide a range of early intervention, counselling & practical support services for young people aged 12-18 years & their families, as well as young parents aged up to 24 years. We focus on improving family relationships, reducing family conflict & re-engaging or maintaining a young person s participation in family, education, training, employment & the community. Please call 42853055 to make an appointment WORK DEVELOPMENT ORDERS Monday to Friday 8.30 3pm WDO s are a way to help people who can't pay their fines. People who are eligible for a WDO can clear their fines with approved activities instead of money. Please contact us for details. LEGAL AID 9am and 12noon every Monday. Need legal advice on civil matters? Make an appointment with a legal aid lawyer. BARNADOS PLAYGROUP * Monday 10 12 noon Book a place in the Barnados play group. Both inside and outside play activities + morning tea. HEARTMOVES Gentle Exercise Monday 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Cost $5.00* Make some new friends, get moving, and feel great. Easy, fun, non-strenuous exercises to tasteful music. YOUTH DROP IN * Monday 4pm 7pm Open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 25. In partnership with Youth off the Streets we run a youth drop in every Friday. Good food. Good fun. Good conversation. ART CLASSES Monday 6.30pm 9.00pm. Cost $13.00 Ever wanted to learn how to paint? Learn about mixing colours, different textures and painting techniques using oils, inks and watercolours. Call Chris 42843586 to book your place. BROADBAND FOR SENIORS Every Monday & Wednesday from 9.30 11.30* Come along and learn how to use a computer, laptop or ipad. Surf the net, send emails or just improve your skills and knowledge. SHINE FOR WOMEN Morning tea and social group Every Tuesday 9.30am-11.30am * Come and join this social group for women of all ages. Free morning tea, companionship, good conversations & activities. EAPA VOUCHERS Tuesday and Thursday Please phone the centre to make an appointment if you need support and advice on budgeting for and paying your power bills. WOMEN S HEALTH IN WOMEN S HANDS 3 rd Wednesday of each month 9am 1pm The FREE Women s clinic covers all types of women s health issues. Call Annette on 4223 8596 to book an appointment or for more information.
BIG FAT SMILE PLAYGROUP Wednesday 9.30 11.30 * Enrol you and your little person in the BFS playgroup at the centre. THE HOMEWORK CLUB * Wednesday 3.15 4.15 School students from primary to high school are invited to come along and do their homework or study in a calm, supportive environment with trained volunteers. There s even a nutritious afternoon tea. Run in partnership with the Smith Family. SHINE GIRLS Wednesday 4.15pm 6pm * Shine Girls gives you a chance to look after your wellbeing, in the company of other girls in a supportive environment. KIDS DROP IN Big Fat Smile and BNC Thursday 3pm 5pm * 5 and 12 year olds are invited to come and play in a safe environment; do some art and craft; play games; and eat a healthy afternoon tea. LINKS TO LEARNING Program runs Thursday and Friday 9am 3pm* Our Links to Learning team delivers targeted programs to school aged students who have been identified as at risk of disengaging from education. Please contact us for more information. YOUNG BEANS CAFÉ Friday 12 noon 2pm * Proudly run by our LINKS TO LEARNING baristas, the café serves a range of delicious coffees, teas and cakes. Drop in and support this fantastic new youth initiative. Everyone is welcome at the Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre You can drop in any time between 9am and 3pm for advice, referrals or a chat with one of our friendly staff or volunteers. Or come in and work or simply sit in our beautiful community garden. If you re new to Bellambi please pop in and pick up an information and facilities kit. We welcome your ideas and suggestions for new and exciting programs at the Centre. Coming soon Certificate I in Volunteering a free course on offer at the BNC please ask the manager for details Bringing Up Great Kids Free Parenting Program @ Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre Family Services Illawarra and BNC are running this five week course Monday s 10am 12noon. Commencing 24 th October Bookings are essential as places are limited. Please call Cate on 4285 3055
BELLAMBI COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 2016/18 UPDATE: EDITION 1 - SEPTEMBER 2016 Safety and the Physical Environment Connections, support and inclusive communities Learning, Education and Employment Community- Focused Services A community that is healthy, safe, proud, thriving and people want to live here What s been happening 8 Community Safety Audits resulting in removal of graffiti, rubbish removal repairs to fencing, beautification of bus shelters and improved house numbering in the Mews Police and FACS Housing Services door knocks in the Mews, letting residents know how to report crime, graffiti and rubbish pick ups 3 Community Safety meetings have been held at the Surf club which led to the establishment of the Community Safety Group and clean ups What s coming up Community Safety Group Clean-up mornings with the Bellambi Community Safety Group are held monthly, meeting at the surf club. It s been a great success, though small. We ve got equipment and passion to keep Bellambi beautiful. Come join us, we meet at the Surf Club before choosing an area to clean: 10am Thursday 6 th October 10am Thursday 27 th October 10am Thursday 10 th November Lights, Cameras, Action Plans to develop new businesses that give back to the Over the next few months Uniting Ability Links is running community workshops in dance, film, music and song writing to create a FACS is funding an initiative through Our Place to develop local social song about the Bellambi community. At the end we will shoot enterprise businesses around food. This will include the Neighbourhood a music video and hold a launch with all the community. Centre community garden, Young Beans Café and catering. If you have a skill to teach, can help out or would like to do a workshop, contact Rebecca Stuttard, ph. 0455099802, rstuttard@uniting.org Education Bellambi Surf Club Social Enterprise Kiosk Workshop in May, giving 100 teachers from local The kiosk is being renovated thanks to funding from NSW Government and schools skills in teaching science, technology, engineering and the generosity of local businesses. Look out for more information on when maths. Early learning conference to support local children s it will open this Summer. positive early learning experiences and transition to school. Bellambi Family Partnerships Local services are working together more closely to support families going through tough times. If you d like more information please speak with Ann at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre or email OurPlaceISD@facs.nsw.gov.au