BVNC inc has been endorsed as a deductable gift recipient. Donations over $2 to the organisation are tax deductable. Your donation will go towards enhancing the services provided by our Neighbourhood Centre projects at Glenning Valley and Bateau Bay as well as the Out of School Hours Care services we provide. It enables these projects to respond to the needs of those most disadvantaged in the community.

A little bit of history…..

The BVNC has been apart of the community since June 1988. This is thanks to funding that was successfully obtained, through the Central Coast Area Assistance Scheme, by a community committee. Initially a part time coordinator was employed, whose primary aim was to assess the locals needs of the area and find avenues to meet those needs.

It was in 1990 that Family and Community Services took over the main funding on a full time basis. Thus allowing for 40 hours, which was time shared between a coordinator and a projects officer. 1990 was also the year that a new building was erected on the Old School Site (off Shannon Parade, Berkeley Vale). Wyong Shire Council was instrumental in providing funds for its construction whilst Skillshare implemented three landscaping courses around the new building.

The centre was also able to establish ongoing funding for a Vacation Care Program, an outreach program in the Pacific Delmar Estate and various groups and one-off projects. As well as assisted many community groups/organisations in their development.

In January 1994 the now manager, Gillian Holton, commenced with BVNC and has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of both the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre and it’s services.

A new centre…..

Since the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centres’ doors opened in June 1989 the centre has continued to grow. It was due to this growth and increasing profile in the Southern Lakes area that ultimately led to Wyong Shire Council developing a new multi-purpose Community Centre. And so in February 2005 the BVNC relocated from the Old School Site to the new Berkeley Centre at Heather Avenue, Glenning Valley. During the opening operation of The Berkeley Centre, BVNC was originally joined by The Spastic Centre. The Spastic Centre however moved on into their own new building and the office space is now available to rent.

This relocation has since allowed BVNC to offer a far greater range of services and allow the Berkeley Vale Vacation Care program to be run from the centres hall. It has also allowed local groups and organisations an oppurtunity to operate from a far bigger and more accessible building.

Where to now…..

In late 2010 BVNC transitioned into the NSW Government Human Services Community Services Community Builders funding program from the outdated Community Services Grants Program (CSGP).  Growing evidence has suggested that an effective way of reducing inequality and disadvantage is to strengthen a community by enhancing its capacity and opportunities for people to engage in a wide variety of social, economic, cultural, recreational, learning and civic activities.

Therefore BVNC’s main objective will be to provide a community hub that will work with individuals, service providers and community groups to provide a locally based, single point of access to services and information that is accessible to all members of the community. The Centre will provide a resource that connects people to information and services that will aim to promote community capacity building, increased resilience and improved safety in the community. They will also work to provide a location for a range of community based, non-profit services including visiting and/or co-located agencies that will benefit residents. More information can be found at the NSW Governments websitehttp://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/comm_builders.pdf