New Vinnies Community Hub Opens To All In Need In Somerset

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has opened the doors to its new Vinnies Community Hub in Somerset on North-West coast. Situated at 43 Wragg Street, near the IGA in the town centre, the Hub will offer support and advice to disadvantaged individuals and families with specific needs. 

Services offered include assistance to mitigate against homelessness, emergency relief, financial literacy, No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) applications, and support information. The Community Hub will also be serving warm meals as part of the Vinnies Dining with Friends program.

Other charities that require a convenient space to deliver services and engage with the communities in and around Somerset are welcome to use the Hub. The Somerset opening follows the successful opening of the Vinnies Community Hub in Launceston; and will be followed soon by another Vinnies Community Hub in Smithton.

Speaking about the initiative, St. Vincent de Paul Society State President, Mr Mark Gaetani, said that the Vinnies Community Hubs stem from an idea tabled at a forum of charities hosted by the Society in October 2019.

“The purpose of the forum was to encourage collaboration and to identify ways charities could work together to benefit the community, especially people who require urgent Emergency Relief. The roll-out was slower than we anticipated, due to COVID-19 in 2020,” Mr Gaetani said.

“By working with other charities, Vinnies Community Hubs aim to provide additional services, such as direct financial counselling or parental and youth counselling programs, which we normally do not provide. The Community Hubs will still assist those in need with access to food, household items, clothing, assistance with utility bills and medical prescription costs, urgent travel needs, and help with budgeting via our Fresh Start program, which is linked to NILS.

“The Society has the advantage of operating state-wide. Our offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie have great street-frontage; as does the new Vinnies Community Hub at 43 Wragg Street, where our Members, staff, and volunteers deliver direct services and make on-the-spot referrals to government agencies or more appropriate charities. Vinnies Community Hubs are safe spaces, where anyone in need can visit and seek assistance without fear of judgement.

“Families and individuals in need require more than a hand-out, they need to build resilience, and to be encouraged, supported, and empowered to take charge of their future. Vinnies’ Community Hubs can assist them in this regard.

“Over the next few months, we will be contacting other charities on the North-West Coast to spread the word about the Vinnies Community Hub. Our aim is to bring together a number of organisations to utilise the Community Hub in Somerset when they are delivering their programs.

“By encouraging other charities to work together, the Society hopes to offer a holistic approach to empowering and building capacity within our communities,” Mr Gaetani said.

Emergency Relief Assistance, complex case management, Fresh Start’s financial literacy and budgeting support, assistance with accessing online applications, identifying training opportunities, and accessing ‘My GOV’ and Centrelink are a few of the services available at Vinnies Community Hub in Somerset. Vinnies Community Hub will be open Monday to Friday between 10am and 4:00pm.