COMBATING and preventing loneliness will be the focus of this year\u2019s Neighbourhood House Week, beginning Friday, 8 May.<\/p>\n
During a period of heightened anxiety where residents may feel more alone, Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre\u2019s executive officer, Vicki Coltman said the week will highlight things the city\u2019s four neighbourhood houses offer to boost community networks and participation, and limit isolation.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeighbourhood Houses normally have lots of different activities, from community lunches, to free classes, to yoga… Things that members of the community, who might not be connected to others, can come to and feel part of something,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrior to the current pandemic situation we\u2019ve got, one in four people said they were lonely, and in some age groups, it\u2019s much higher.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that there are many older members in our community that live alone and don\u2019t have much regular contact with family if they have family. At the moment, that\u2019s increased and people are feeling quite stressed and lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within the seven days of neighbourhood house celebration, and far beyond, Mrs Coltman\u2019s centre is in partnership with Victoria Police to champion involvement in the Ballarat & District Community Support Register.<\/p>\n
Since it launched eight years ago, 1000 people have joined the roll, with over 800 active members.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for people who live by themselves and need someone to ring them once a week, once a month, just to do a welfare check and touch base. There\u2019s no age limit, but most of them are older,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a program of the Victoria Police in Ballarat, and a community group and volunteers as part of Neighbourhood Watch, which folded late last year because everyone\u2019s gone online.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre has taken over the management of the program, with a group of volunteers looking to recruit others, and reintegrate the register into neighbourhood houses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs neighbourhood houses, the register gives us a wider scope, to talk to these people we\u2019re calling and say we\u2019ve got a luncheon coming up, or get them involved in activities that we run,\u201d Mrs Coltman said.<\/p>\n