What’s happening in your neighbourhood?

THE Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre has supported the community and brought people together for over 40 years.

We offer a broad catalogue of courses and group sessions in everything from learning how to use a computer, to creating community art, and all manner of things in-between.

Our courses are run during school terms and in small classes of between six to 10 learners. With approximately 30 different adult education classes on offer each term, we have something for everyone.

We also host regular social lunches where around 50 people, largely from our senior community, gather for a chat and a hearty two course meal.

“After running these community lunches for a couple of years now, it’s always lovely to see our regular faces in the centre,” said executive officer Vicki Coltman.

“We also enjoy welcoming new visitors and encourage people to bring a friend, or make a new one.”

The lunches are part of the Centre’s social enterprise program, with meals prepared and served by the students and volunteers of Our Kitchen.

This workforce development project has courses with a 60 per cent success rate for helping people get back into the workforce.

Our garden supplies vegetables and herbs to Our Kitchen meals programs, and is a great place for likeminded folk with a passion for gardening to share their knowledge with others.

“We have volunteers who help once a month, once a week, most days, or in several cases whenever we send out a call,” Mrs Coltman said.

“We are incredibly grateful for the work our volunteers do and endeavour to make them feel welcomed and appreciated.”

The team at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre are excited to be a finalist in the Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards.

Being a finalist in the Ballarat Foundation Community Impact Award category is fantastic recognition of the Centre’s work over the past 18 months to provide free meals, computer access, skills training and help find employment for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged community members.

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