Clunes Neighbourhood House is a community led organisation, with more than double the number of volunteers involved in it’s operations each week, compared to the state average. Working with local people, businesses and other community groups, our goal is to contribute to the liveability of Clunes by supporting everyone to be an active part of the neighbourhood.
Clunes Neighbourhood House was formally founded in 1992 (after operating informally prior to then) and incorporated in 2007 by local people seeking to provide community development opportunities that would lessen social isolation and foster inclusion.
We operate on a three year strategic planning style to enable us to have the time to work together to co-design and embed outcomes across the community.
Download our 2018-2021 plan here CNH Strategic-Plan-2018 – 2021 APPROVED
How did we get to this plan? Down load our 2016-2018 plan here. CNH Strategic-Plan-2016-2018 APPROVED
Building a Safe And Supportive Community
At the Clunes Neighborhood House, we have now formed Child Safety Policy as part of our strategic planning process beyond 2018. Our aim is to nurture safe and supportive networks for children, their families, and ultimately the wider community.
In 2017, we partnered with Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre and the Victorian State Government to undertake a series of research studies to better understand the aspirational, educational and employability needs of our community – and the broader shire. Through a series of surveys and one on one interviews, we produced the findings, which have informed many of our initiatives since then.
Clunes Neighbourhood House coordinates:
- An acre of community garden
- The Men’s Shed
- Open House lunches & dinners
- Tutoring program for local primary and secondary children
- The Art Factory: a space where arts, music, youth and community meet.
- Art Attack, a two-year program tackling significant social change through art and creativity, in co-operation with Asking for Trouble, a Clunes-based circus/physical theatre company.
We also support a range of social and health related activities including arts, crafts, music appreciation, card playing, fitness, welding, woodwork and allied health support groups.
A Snapshot of Clunes Neighbourhood House:
Clunes Neighbourhood House has been operating for almost 30 years, and in that time has become a part of the neighbourhood, living and sharing a number of different premises. The first premises was the Old Free Library – a fitting site and one which many people hope the NH will operate in again one day – when it is made safe enough. A one off Government Grant of $140,000 was provided in 1987, to fund a coordinator and computers, but no ongoing funding. In the early days, the main focus was on classes for adults, in using computers, cash registers etc. Neighbourhood House then moved to a shop front in Fraser St (where Widow Twankeys is now!) and then to the Hepburn Health Services premises on the Ballarat Rd. After 10 years or so there, Neighbourhood House moved to No 6 Service St for 3 before finding it new home, with the Lee Medlyn Home of Bottles at the Old School House at 70 Bailey Street, in 2011. This beautiful building has been very effectively shared since then.
