All welcome at neighbourhood hub

THE doors at Bendigo Neighbourhood Hub are always open but this month they’re inviting the community in for special events, programs or even just a casual chat during Neighbourhood House Week.

From 8 to 14 May the Hub will run a variety of classes for people of all ages and abilities and co-ordinator Angelique Whitehouse said anyone is welcome at the commitment free events.

“It’s about opening our doors and encouraging people just to come in and have a look around. Sometimes it’s really daunting to walk into a new place and just join a course, you don’t know anyone, you’ve never been there so for us it’s about just saying ‘look we’re here, come in, have a look around’,” she said.

“I think it takes a little bit of that pressure off people. Sometimes it’s just being unfamiliar with something and then when you get a little bit of familiarity you feel more comfortable walking in and engaging.”

On the events calendar are classes for sewing, computers, phones and even an English language class taught by Ms Whitehouse.

“There’s so much stuff we do here, so many programs, activities that most people don’t even know about and they’re really surprised when they walk in.”

Volunteers and staff at the Hub can also provide one-on-one support to people with a range of different needs like assistance with Centrelink forms or housing when they may not be eligible for other services.

“We fill the gaps,” Ms Whitehouse said. “They can come here and we will meet that need when it arises.”

Kaitlin Williams joined the team as a program and administration worker after completing a placement at the Hub during her studies and said the mostly free services they provide are vital for the public.

“It’s incredibly critical of the community to have a place like this. It’s so important to have that staff and that support there in the community to be able to lift and support everyone,” she said.

“No matter what race, gender, age [or] ethnicity, everyone is always welcome.”

More information on the Bendigo Neighbourhood Hub and their open house week can be found on their Facebook page.