St David's Uniting Church Neighbourhood Centre

By Kellie Griffiths, Centre Manager

 The week, 12–18 May, is Neighbourhood Centre week where local Neighbourhood Centres are celebrated for their vital role and impact in the community.

St David’s Neighbourhood Centre is the mission of St David’s Uniting Church, which came about following the congregation’s vision to support and serve their community in a practical way.  It started by providing limited hours childcare and a Thrift Shop in 1986, established with the help of Jan Chalmers who was also instrumental in establishing a community outreach activity at Balmoral Uniting Church. The Thrift shop is still enjoyed by customers who find out about the activities of the Neighbourhood Centre through the shop.

St David’s Neighbourhood Centre is a place of connection and support for the community, with the aim of providing social inclusion and reducing feelings of social isolation.  The Centre creates a sense of welcome for all community members and provides informal spaces where they can be themselves, ask questions and be referred to supports.

Some of the drop-in Activities include monthly community BBQ breakfasts, Monday Craft and Chat, and Thursday laughing yoga.  The Thrift shop holds monthly sales, and once a month opens late on a Thursday night.  Harmony Club runs six days a week providing social support and day respite to clients, the youngest being 39 years and the oldest is 100 years!  Favourite Harmony Club activities are singing and music, bus trips, BBQ lunches and spending time with friends.

Each year we hold Autumn Fest, a community event that welcomes over 350 people to the centre to learn about the centre, interact with local community groups, learn how they can be involved and support and enjoy entertainment and free children’s activities. This year, as part of Autumn Fest, we are holding our first Community Art Competition and children and adults are invited to enter their artwork with the chance of winning a prize.  The aim is to encourage our community to access their creative side and for it be an accessible event for all, and the artworks will be on display during Autumn Fest with a People Choice Award being voted on during the event.

St David’s Neighbourhood Centre is a diverse community both culturally, economically and socially.  In the January to March quarter this year:

• 311 Neighbourhood Centre Activities were run with a total of 3,325 participants
• 365 incidents of referral and information provided by the Outreach worker
• 66 people received emergency relief assistance
• In January we partnered with kids for kids and distributed 167 schoolbook packs
• Total volunteer numbers were 45 with 26 working in the St David’s Neighbourhood Centre Thrift Shop.

St David’s Uniting Church are living out the mission of the church and making an impact on their community in this practical way.  This year, 2025, St David’s Uniting Church are celebrating their 50 year anniversary and are holding several special events to celebrate.