by Wendy Greaves, Manager
The 2023/2024 year has been a good one and we are pleased to report a healthy financial result which has been achieved by lots of hard work and dedication by all staff and volunteers connected with Winch House.
We are very happy to have seen a much more normal year following on from several very disruptive covid years. The Community are reconnecting or connecting for the first time with us and are bringing all sorts of wonderful suggestions and ideas with them.
AUSPICE GROUPS
As at 30th June, 2024 Winchelsea Community House has six auspice groups being:
Winchelsea Men’s Shed/Community Garden
Wensleydale Rural Community Group
Winchelsea Youth Leisure Drop-In (WYLD)
Wurdale & Surrounds Recovery Network
Conquer the Corrugations
Hesse Rural Health – Food Project
Each of the groups have provided a report which is attached in this annual report.
GROUPS OF THE HOUSE
Craft Group– The Craft group continue to come in on Wednesday’s during the term and work on their individual projects whilst enjoying each others’ company and sharing ideas, skills, recipes and food.
The skill and talent of this group is amazing and they produce such beautiful work.
They are a very supportive group and help each other through the tough times that often present.
Crochet Group –The ladies and one solitary man who attend the group have had a great year once again, We are thinking about changing our name to the Saturday Afternoon Craft group as we are also catering to knitters as well (and we never said it was just a Crochet Group). Again, we have a core group that attends regularly and we recently acquired a new member who has lived in the region for almost forty years and didn’t know we existed until her husband purchased a Winchelsea Star! Projects get completed and more started, there can never be enough Crochet (and knitting) in the World.
Come join us if you want to give Crocheting a try!
First session is free and then $5 per session.
Thursday Knitting Group– A small group of ladies come together to knit and chat over a cuppa on Thursday mornings from 10.30 to 12.
Everyone is welcome to this small social group.
Toy Library– Our Toy Library has just had a complete overhaul and lots of new toys and resources have been purchased following receipt of a government grant.
Our Committee Treasurer Madeline has spent many hours on this task and we thank her enormously for all her hard work.
Toys can be borrowed at any time when the office is resourced which is usually Monday to Friday between 9 and 2. You can borrow 2 toys for 2 weeks for $2.
Be sure to come in and have a look at it.
SERVICES
Office services continue to be very much used, especially photocopying, printing and assistance with all types of online renewals such as passports, working with children checks, employment forms etc.
We are happy to help with most things but suggest that you call beforehand to make sure we are free to assist you.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are a key part of our community organisation and are very welcomed. We have a variety of volunteer roles at Winch House including Toy Library, Occasional Care, Gardening, Front Desk Reception or being a member of our Committee of Management. We thank our current volunteers for all their hard work during the year.
OTHER
Our arrangement with managing the Shire Hall space has been extended until 30 June 2025 in order to align with SCS budget year. We continue to experiment with lots of different things in that space. This is a space for all to use so if you would like to have an event or gathering please contact us for a quote.
Our childcare service is still very popular, especially with lots of under 3 year olds looking for pre kinder places. Unfortunately due to government staff ratios we have very limited availability but it is always worth enquiring as circumstances are changing for families all the time and places do become available.
We are always up for a chat and welcome you to come in and tell us what you would like to see happening at the Community House and we will try our best to make it happen.
