Services range from the Harvest Hub, offering free food and more to people experiencing food insecurity, to craft and cooking workshops, a community garden and programs focused on social connectivity.
But it can’t offer all these services and more without the help of volunteers, which are currently thin on the ground.
Manager Krystal Bolejko is recruiting volunteers to assist in a number of areas.
“One of the volunteer opportunities we currently have available would be on our committee of governance,” she said.
“The community house is governed by a group of local community members.
“We are an incorporated association, and those governance roles are basically things like helping set the strategic plan, signing off on changes of policy and procedures.
“It requires things like admin and organisational skills.”
Ms Bolejko said in terms of operational positions, there were various volunteer opportunities available.
“We are looking for people to get involved with cooking programs, youth cooking programs and community cooking events using our new barbecue outside,” she said.
“We need community garden volunteers as well.
“We want people to come in and make it their own.
“I have one or two people at the moment, but would love to have a little bit more of a group of volunteers to take that on as their own and make it into something.”
Ms Bolejko said the beauty of these volunteer positions was they did not require any qualifications.
If you are a keen gardener, then a role with the community garden could be perfect for you.
If you’ve been cooking the family dinners for decades, your skills would be perfect for the cooking programs.
All you need is community spirit and a couple of free hours each week or fortnight.
“We can absolutely provide assistance with the relevant checks like police checks, working with children checks and food safety certificates, as well as any other necessary upskilling to fit into any of these roles. That's something we absolutely want to support volunteers with,” Ms Bolejko said.
“And we are always starting new programs. So if anyone has a hobby or skill they want to share with the community, get in touch.
“It could be beading, candle making or woodworking, for example.
“Any sort of niche skill could help facilitate a workshop.
“Another really interesting opportunity would be a facilitator for a sensory playgroup.
“It’s something that we’ve done previously. We have all the resources, all the space. I just don’t have a person with the passion to come in and do it.
“Even if it was two people who wanted to come in and make it their own, that would be wonderful.”
Ms Bolejko said there was also a need for a parent, with lived experience of raising a child with ADHD, to facilitate a program for other local parents to attend.
“I wouldn’t say it would be an official support group, but more of a group for facilitating connection,” she said.
“So anybody who has strong leadership skills, lived experience and could commit to, say, one day a week or one day a fortnight to host that type of program would be amazing.”
Again, it’s not something you need a qualification for.
“It’s more of the lived experience and leadership skills that I'm searching for,” Ms Bolejko said.
The beauty of volunteering is often the volunteers get as much, if not more, from it as the people they are helping.
“It’s a great networking opportunity,” Ms Bolejko said.
“And for people, even young people that are still trying to work out what they want to do before entering the workforce, it’s a really great opportunity to build skills that then can be transferred into other avenues and included on your resume.”
If you would like to volunteer with Seymour and District Community House, you can make contact via Facebook @seymour & district community house or by emailing seycom01@bigpond.net.au
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