Help us keep Neighbourhood Houses Strong

If Clunes Neighbourhood House has ever been useful to you, your family, a friend or someone in our community, we’d love you to support a statewide petition calling for better funding for Neighbourhood Houses. The petition closes Monday 31 August, so there are only a few days left to add your name - SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Why does it matter?

Neighbourhood House funding has not kept pace with the cost of doing the work. According to the petition lodged with the Victorian Parliament, funding is now 20% lower in real terms than it was in 2010, and around half of Victoria’s Neighbourhood Houses have recorded a financial loss for the past three years.

Here in Clunes, that funding supports much more than groups and activities.

It helps us provide a place where people can connect, volunteer, find practical support, access food relief, navigate services, start new ideas and get involved in their community. Increasingly, our work also includes helping Clunes prepare for challenges such as extreme heat, power outages and emergencies.

Sometimes our most important role is simply being a place where someone can walk through the door, know someone, and have somewhere to start.

It's about the future of communities like ours

Small rural communities need local organisations that can respond when things change, bring people together and make it easier for people to participate in community life.

We think that kind of local infrastructure is worth protecting.

If you do too, please sign the petition before Monday 31 August. It only takes a couple of minutes.

SIGN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSES FUNDING PETITION

And please share it. Every signature helps show that Victorians value strong, locally led Neighbourhood Houses.