Ballarat North hub moves house

AFTER nearly four decades under the auspice of the Salvation Army’s Soldiers Hill base, staff at the Ballarat North Neighbourhood House are setting off on their own.

Management have spent the last few months phasing out of their home of 37 years with the aim of making BNNH its own separate entity.

The non-profit’s former coordinator Kristen Sheridan will now serve as BNNH’s manager. She said the change is a win for both organisations.

“We decided in the last six months it’d be a great opportunity for the neighbourhood house to become its own standalone organisation,” she said.

“For the Salvation Army, their homeless program there was tight on space so this gives them the opportunity to expand those services.

“For the house, it’s really big. When you’re managed by a committee of local people, you tend to get a higher participation rate and better outcomes.

“We’re in the transition period of moving our programs out of the Salvation Army building.”

With administrative duties carried out from their Camp Street office, the organisation’s activities are being shared between different venues.

Programs are expected to be held next term at the Ballarat Library, and Russell Square, with the potential to also use the LaNCE TV studios.

Ms Sheridan said making BNNH its own entity is about offering bigger and better services.

“When neighbourhood houses are programs, they tend to manage well but tend to not be as big and exciting as they can be,” she said.

“There are people who’ve been coming to programs here for over a decade. Since the changes and their involvement, they’re becoming volunteers and supporting the house in ways they wouldn’t have thought about before as a program of a larger organisation.

“It’s to change the culture. Neighbourhood Houses Victoria and the Salvos have both been very supportive.”

Ms Sheridan added there’s no hurry for BNNH to plant their roots in a particular building.

“We’re not rushing it,” she said.

“We’re utilising a hub and spoke model and setting up agreements with local organisations. With Russell Square, for example, they’re really looking at activating that space.

“If something arises that’s purpose-built, we’ll jump on it, but we don’t need to be beholden to any particular timeframe and can do what makes sense to both Ballarat North and the community.”