COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Funded by the Department of Community Services, Community Services Grants Program (CSGP)

Community Development Project Target Group The Community Development Project targets the Western Newcastle Local Government Area (LGA) and a number of areas within Lake Macquarie LGA including the suburbs of: Birmingham Gardens, Callaghan, Jesmond, Lambton, North Lambton, New Lambton Heights, Shortland, Silver Ridge and Waratah West, Cardiff, Elermore Vale & Wallsend (where particular services may not be provided),

Community Development Project Outcomes Provides face to face services and casework Provides face to face services and casework follow-up to individuals and families requesting generalist services. follow-up to individuals and families requesting generalist services. Provides information and assistance to families presenting with financial stress. Provides information and assistance to families presenting with financial stress. Undertakes community development work to ensure services develop in response to changing client group needs. Undertakes community development work to ensure services develop in response to changing client group needs.

Service includes programs to provide educational, financial and practical material support to disadvantaged clients, particularly in the Jesmond Planning District. Service includes programs to provide educational, financial and practical material support to disadvantaged clients, particularly in the Jesmond Planning District. Build effective working relationships with a variety of community service agencies in Newcastle LGA & Jesmond Planning District to enable effective referral of clients, and up to date information about services for clients. Build effective working relationships with a variety of community service agencies in Newcastle LGA & Jesmond Planning District to enable effective referral of clients, and up to date information about services for clients.

ACTIVITIES THAT HELP DELIVER THESE OUTCOMES Providing referrals for clients to community services and other organisations Providing referrals for clients to community services and other organisations Provide information about a range of services and support available in the community (updated brochures and Community Contact databases). Provide information about a range of services and support available in the community (updated brochures and Community Contact databases). Networking with other services, groups and organisations including Newcastle Interagency. Networking with other services, groups and organisations including Newcastle Interagency. Work in partnership with other services to ensure services develop in response to clients needs such as; Work in partnership with other services to ensure services develop in response to clients needs such as; - Learn to Manage Your Money Course - Jesmond Learning Centre - TAX HELP program Build social capital by engaging and supporting existing small community groups and assisting new groups to commence which will target identified social needs in the local area such as; Build social capital by engaging and supporting existing small community groups and assisting new groups to commence which will target identified social needs in the local area such as; - CALD groups - CALD groups - Commencement of Heartmoves - Continuing support for Computers for Beginners classes

COMMUNITY PROJECT KEY ACTIVITIES Community programs have a significant role in providing services that cater for the diverse range of needs within the area. A wide array of programs exist, all of which have an important role in providing a safe, supportive environment where we offer services, opportunities and resources to improve the lives of our community members. These are just some of the programs we have at our centre’s:

Some of our Community Groups & Hall Users Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre Jim Jams Playgroup Jim Jams Playgroup Jesmond Learning Centre (Tutoring Program) Jesmond Learning Centre (Tutoring Program) Toogee Taekwondo Toogee Taekwondo Mental Health Anxiety Support Group Mental Health Anxiety Support Group Friends of the Regal Friends of the Regal Overeaters Anonymous Overeaters Anonymous Smocking Smocking English Conversation Class and Playgroup English Conversation Class and Playgroup Newcastle Christian Fellowship Church Newcastle Christian Fellowship Church Heartmoves Heartmoves Lake Peer Support Group Lake Peer Support Group Silveridge Community centre Shuffle & Slide Butterflies Playgroup GBI Indonesian Church Multicultural Christian Fellowship Wallsend East Residents Association Desert Moon Dancers Tuesday Playtime Other Groups associated JNC: South American Support Group Filipino Group Indian Community Group Spanish Group Romanian Group The Computers for Beginners program is held at Jesmond Park Uniting Church

COMMUNITY PROJECT KEY ACTIVITIES (Wednesdays 2:00pm -2:45pm) (Wednesdays 2:00pm -2:45pm) The Heartmoves exercise program is a low to moderate exercise program designed by the Heart Foundation and the Department of Health. A health assessment is required to participate. Run by accredited exercise professionals Run by accredited exercise professionals Classes are suitable for anyone who is not currently exercising or previously exercised. Classes are suitable for anyone who is not currently exercising or previously exercised. The program is open to all and designed specifically to cater for people with stable chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease The program is open to all and designed specifically to cater for people with stable chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease The class is also a great place for people to make new friends and work with others to get moving, and have fun exercising at their own level within a small group. The class is also a great place for people to make new friends and work with others to get moving, and have fun exercising at their own level within a small group.

JESMOND LEARNING CENTRE (JLC) Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with The Smith Family had established The Jesmond Learning Centre Program during Term 3 & 4 of Jesmond Learning Centre provides a learning environment for children and young people in years , giving them the opportunity to develop further skills and confidence as learners. JLC will look to match a child with a volunteer mentor/tutor who can support them with their homework/studies. For more information you can contact Lydia on or Gill on JOIN LEARN CELEBRATE I would also like to thank the Rotary Club of Wallsend –Maryland for their support for the Jesmond Learning Centre. the Jesmond Learning Centre.

TAX HELP Tax Help is a free and confidential service to help people complete their tax returns at tax time and also access superseeker which assists clients to find lost superannuation. Tax Help is for people on low incomes including, but not restricted to; - those who are also seniors - students - people from non-English speaking backgrounds - people with a disability - Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people. Since tax can be complex, volunteers are only able to help with fairly straightforward tax returns.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BARRIERS Funding limitations Funding limitations Unable to apply for a number of funding opportunities as JNC is not currently registered for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Unable to apply for a number of funding opportunities as JNC is not currently registered for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Limited ability to do outreach with other service providers & engage with community outside of the centre. Limited ability to do outreach with other service providers & engage with community outside of the centre. Restricted time in order to meet project needs. Restricted time in order to meet project needs. Ability to reach and inform the larger scale of community members about the services of Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre and access for support in a range of areas. Ability to reach and inform the larger scale of community members about the services of Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre and access for support in a range of areas.

ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS & STUDENT PLACEMENTS Jesmond Learning Centre aligns dedicated volunteers with school students to support, tutor and/or mentor them in their schoolwork. This extra tuition results in changing the students experiences of school, which in turn gives them better prospects and choices for their future. Jesmond Learning Centre aligns dedicated volunteers with school students to support, tutor and/or mentor them in their schoolwork. This extra tuition results in changing the students experiences of school, which in turn gives them better prospects and choices for their future. JNC is committed to supporting student placements and the Community Development Project lends itself to students, for instance we have had student placements within the last year who have worked with focus groups and research reporting such as review of Youth engagement and engagement with the CALD community within Jesmond. JNC is committed to supporting student placements and the Community Development Project lends itself to students, for instance we have had student placements within the last year who have worked with focus groups and research reporting such as review of Youth engagement and engagement with the CALD community within Jesmond.

Community Worker (Part-time) Lydia Wardley (02) (02)