St Philip's Care at Northbourne Community Centre Coordinator: Reverend Robin Moore (Hon. Deacon) c/o St Philip's Anglican Church PO Box 6022 O'Connor ACT 2602 Telephone (02) 6161 7334 ABN 82 903 869 176 E mail stphil@grapevine.com.au Sponsors: Anglicare and the Snow Foundation; supporters: ADRA Op Shop, Braddon, and generous business and individuals.

Directions

Go to the double doors at the end of Block 5, Northbourne Flats, Forbes Street, Turner.

From Civic: along Northbourne Ave, first bus stop on the left past Haig Park (pine trees).

Open

Mondays 12.00 noon - 5.00 pm. Closed most, but not all, public holidays.

Providing

A free nourishing lunch, together with physical and emotional support in a friendly, caring atmosphere.

For

Low income/disadvantaged people in Canberra's inner north, with some people coming from further afield. Homeless people call in, as do people who are referred by various support agencies. All age groups attend the centre, with older children calling in after school.

Attendance

Monday attendance usually ranges between 70 and 110; annual attendance is 3,500 to 4,000 people.

The Centre

The Centre is very small so much use is made of the outdoor areas all year round.

Recreational activities

Include basketball practice rings, darts (at times), books, magazines, various fun competitions, chalk boards, musical instruments, board games, children's toys and a makeshift table tennis table.

Physical support

Includes free clothing, utility, decorative and fun items. Sheets and blankets, etc., — when available. An emergency food supply assists both people and pets in cases of short-term need. People attending the centre also contribute items from their own limited resources and there is much generosity and sharing.

Problems that affect this community

— either directly or indirectly — include loneliness, poverty, marginalisation, isolation, mental illness, physical illness & injury, drug & alcohol addiction, family & relationship breakdown, poor living & communication skills, violence, aggression and sexual abuse; also, problems associated with high density living. Isolation can apply to retired people and those new to the area. The centre provides a casual environment for migrants to practise their English skills.

The Centre provides

A supportive, positive & caring atmosphere — a place to share not only the bad times but, just as importantly, the good ones too. Community information is available and referral to specialised services may be suggested. Additional support such as hospital visits etc. may also be given, depending on individual circumstances and our limited resources.

Sponsorship

In April 2012, St Philip's warmly welcomed funding from Anglicare of $23,000 a year for three years for the work at the Northbourne Community Centre.

Sponsorship by the The Snow Foundation and support from the ADRA Op Shop and generous businesses and individuals in the community is our life blood and has a valuable flow-on effect, influencing other people and businesses to help in a variety of ways.

Long term support

St Philip's Care was established in January 1996 — first attending the Condamine Court housing complex in Turner, then, when refurbishment took place in 1997, along the road at the Northbourne Flats. In almost 16 years, total Monday attendance has exceeded 50,000.

We are grateful for donations

. . . of good quality clothing, sheets, blankets, tinned and packet foods, tinned pet foods and pet accessories; also utility, decorative and fun items. All items need to be clean and in good working order. Regretably, due to safety concerns we are unable to accept electrical items. Donations of money go fully and directly to the Centre's work.