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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 14th

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

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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.

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The Program this month Any activities marked with * do not run in the school holidays.

These events will restart the week commencing Monday 10th

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

3rd

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.

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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 24th

October

Bookings are essential as places are limited. Please call Cate on 4285 3055

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What’s been happening What’s coming up

Safety and the Physical Environment

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 6th October

10am Thursday 27th October

10am Thursday 10th November

Connections, support and inclusive communities

Lights, Cameras, Action Over the next few months Uniting Ability Links is running workshops in dance, film, music and song writing to create a song about the Bellambi community. At the end we will shoot a music video and hold a launch with all the community. 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

Plans to develop new businesses that give back to the community FACS is funding an initiative through Our Place to develop local social enterprise businesses around food. This will include the Neighbourhood Centre community garden, Young Beans Café and catering.

Learning, Education and Employment

Education Workshop in May, giving 100 teachers from local schools skills in teaching science, technology, engineering and maths. Early learning conference to support local children’s positive early learning experiences and transition to school.

Bellambi Surf Club Social Enterprise Kiosk The kiosk is being renovated thanks to funding from NSW Government and the generosity of local businesses. Look out for more information on when it will open this Summer.

Community-Focused Services

Bellambi Family Partnerships Local services are working together more closely to support families going through tough times.

3 Community Safety meetings have been held at the Surf club which led to the establishment of the Community Safety Group and clean ups

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

BELLAMBI COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 2016/18 UPDATE: EDITION 1 - SEPTEMBER

2016

A community that is healthy, safe, proud, thriving and people want to live here

If you’d like more information please speak with Ann at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre or email OurPlaceISD@facs.nsw.gov.au