Glen Park Community Centre

BRUMBY GOVERNMENT GIVES GLEN PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE A HELPING HAND

Friday, 24 October 2008

The much-loved Glen Park Community Centre in Bayswater North has received a $35,000 lifeline from the Brumby Government. Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor visited the centre today to make the announcement of the package to support the ongoing planning and operations of the community café. “The Brumby Government is taking action now to build better communities across Victoria,” Mr Batchelor said. “Organisations like this centre mean so much to local communities by providing meals, services and a place to meet and connect with others, so we are pleased to be able to support the centre to develop a strong and sustainable financial base.” “The not-for-profit café is a great training facility for unemployed people and the Brumby Government is ensuring all Victorians have access to fantastic community facilities like Glen Park.” Mr Batchelor said the Government’s rescue package included $15,000 from the Department of Planning and Community Development’s Community Enterprise program to help the centre prepare robust business and financial plans. A further $20,000 from the Community Renewal flexible fund will be provided to support the café’s operations. Community Renewal is part of the Victoria Government’s A Fairer Victoria $4 billion social action plan addressing disadvantage and increasing social inclusion in Victoria. Mr Batchelor said the new funding was in addition to significant Victorian Government funding already contributed to the centre, including $50,000 in April 2008 to establish the Men's Shed, $40,500 under the Neighbourhood Houses Coordination Program and $25,000 from the Community Support Fund to relocate a weatherboard building from Bayswater Uniting Church to Glen Park. The centre also receives funding from the Federal Government, Adult Community and Further Education, the Department of Human Services, Maroondah City Council funding as well as various grant funding. Local Government Minister Richard Wynne said the Brumby Government was committed to investing in Neighbourhood Houses like Glen Park because they provided opportunities for Victorians to learn new skills that improved their employment prospects and reduced disadvantage. “They also bring people together to build strong local connections, particularly in areas with cultural and linguistically diverse people,” Mr Wynne said.

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Pratt Foundation saves community café from closure

Publish Date: 23-Oct-2008

This year the Pratt Foundation marks thirty years of philanthropy and supporting our local communities.
The Foundation's recent donation to a not-for-profit café at the Glen Park Community Centre in Melbourne's Bayswater North, typifies the many worthwhile community causes the Foundation has readily supported over the better part of three decades.

The café was on the brink of closure when Richard Pratt asked the Pratt Foundation to look at ways it could help out. The result was a $32,000 donation which will fund the employment of a café manager for the next 12 months.

Providing training to the unemployed, the café is also a local meeting place for the lonely and disadvantaged. The assistance from the Pratt Foundation will allow the café time to develop strategies to maintain its important role in the local community and work towards ensuring its long term sustainability.

"Visy and the Pratt Family have always had a strong commitment to contributing to the development of more sustainable and inclusive communities and the donation to the café is yet another example of this commitment", said Tony Gray, Director Sustainability.

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