At the beginning of each term, we release the ‘Neighbourhood Natters’ which is a brochure of all of our regular and one-off programs held here at the centre. This is the best way to find out about the different programs and services we supply, and you can download a copy on our home page, or swing by and pick up a hard copy.
Our programs are run on a community needs basis. For example, if we get heaps of requests about cooking classes, we run a cooking class!
Our programs are most often facilitated by passionate volunteers in our community, and we couldn’t run them without them. If you have a skill, have a secret recipe, or are passionate about something in our local community, get in touch with us and we can talk about ways in which we can work together to spread local knowledge and skills.
If you have an idea for a workshop that you can facilitate, or have an idea for a workshop that you would like to attend, get in touch with us!
Find our contact details below, or pop into the centre for more information
Belmont Men’s Shed is a safe and welcoming place for men of all ages to gather and have a yarn while sharing skills, creating friendships and projects together. Members of the community often ask us to restore furniture, or design and make projects for them. There is an extensive list of items that we make such as, large Christmas decorations that can be displayed in gardens or on roofs; possum/bird boxes and small beehives; large letters to use for birthdays, weddings and other events; and sets of jewellery mandrels. We have wooden gifts for sale at the shed – children’s chairs, trucks and others toys; wooden pens and many other interesting goodies. Get your Christmas or birthday orders in early!
Monday to Friday from 9am – 2pm
Phone number: 0492 879 307
Cost: $40 for annual membership to the Men’s Shed. This includes membership for other BNC programs.
You can never have enough books or a big enough bookshelf. BNC’s Community Book Exchange is a free program that provides a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. There are biographies and true stories and a fair amount of information if you happen to be a cricket fan. Or if you want to binge read Agatha Christie, there is a good selection available. Mysteries, thrillers and crime abound. If you’re a romantic, Jodi Picoult or Nora Roberts may appeal to you. Come and browse our shelves; bring a book or take a book; exchange your loved stories for someone else’s.
Monday to Friday from 9am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Contact BNC on 4947 0031
The categories are:
True Stories | Thriller | Romance | Mystery | Drama | Adventure | Crime
Bugalugs is our playgroup for under fives.
When: Tuesday mornings, 9:30 am to 12 pm
Cost: $3 per family
Bring your morning tea and a hat
No bookings required – just show up!
The Coffee, Chat and Craft Group (CCC) is a social group where women can bring their personal crafting pieces, chat, enjoy each other’s company, chat, knit, chat, exchange ideas, chat, crochet and perhaps have a yarn over morning tea!! There is no formal tuition or expectation, just craft-lovers together. And did we mention having a chat?
New members are always welcome so please come along and join us.
Fridays from 930am – 12pm
Cost: $8 (members) or $10 (non-members)
Confused? Frustrated? Ready to throw your phone, tablet out of the window? Have you given up on ever being able to register with organisations such as MyGov or Service NSW? Or buy tickets on-line? The good news is that our wonderful volunteers can help with a variety of computer and smartphone issues. They are here if you need to learn the basics about your phone or computer and can help if you are wanting to improve your skills. There is coaching on the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access and Publisher); using the internet; on-line purchases and bill paying; how to download apps and programs; or whatever you might want to learn about. The individual or group classes take place in a relaxed environment which will help to build your confidence. Lessons run for 1 hour.
3 days a week by appointment (Wednesday – Friday)
Cost: $5 (members) or $7 (non-members)
Contact BNC on 4947 0031
Habitat in Harmony is a community garden project which grows food in a organic and sustainable manner. Seasonal fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs are for sale to the public at extremely reasonable prices, all of which goes back into funding future growth in the garden. Produce varies across the year depending on the season. In spring there are plenty of leafy veggies (celery, silvery beet, kale and lettuces). In summer, zucchini, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and beans. Autumn it’s chillies, potatoes, swedes and turnips. Winter’s produce is lettuce, snow-peas, cabbage and broccoli.
Bags of compost need to be pre-ordered and are to be collected from the garden. In keeping with sustainability principles, reusable hessian potato bags are provided and can be dropped back in to the garden or the BNC reception desk at any time.
Worm-wee fertiliser is occasionally available, ask at the garden for more information.
You can find our Facebook page by searching for ‘Habitat in Harmony Community Garden’, or join the e-newsletter by leaving your name and email address with our friendly staff.
We are open Mondays to Fridays from 8am – 2pm
Cost: ‘$12 for annual membership to the Habitat in Harmony Garden. This includes membership for other BNC programs.
Click here to see the Habitat in Harmony Facebook Page
Hunter Region No Interest Loan Scheme: HRNILS is a program providing interest free loans for essential items up to $1500 to low-income residents of Lake Macquarie.
Due to Covid-19 related changes, clients need to contact HRNILS directly on 49877660.
If needed, we can email your documents to HRNILS.
Cost: Free
We have two halls and two rooms available for hire.
The Main hall has the approximate capacity for 100 people with tables and chairs or 150 seated – there is also a small stage. A semi-commercial kitchen and on-site parking is available.
The PlayStation Hall is our hall for children. It has an approximate capacity for 60 people with tables and chairs. This is an excellent space for Children’s parties as it has an undercover outdoor area and new play equipment. There is a kitchen with tea/coffee and cooking facilities. This space is very popular so book early!!
The Conference Room holds a maximum of 15 people and has 1 PCs with internet connection, whiteboard and air conditioning.
A Consultation Room which is suitable for one-on-one wellness services such as massage, beauty treatments and reflexology or for one-on-one counselling or small meetings of up to ten people.
PLEASE NOTE: All our facilities are air-conditioned and have disability access.
PARTY HIRE- $600 (plus a refundable $700 Bond). NO 18th or 21st birthdays in accordance with Council Policy.
KIDS PARTY HIRE $150 for members, $200 for non members plus a $150 refundable Bond.
Please contact Kylie on 49470031 for all hall hire enquiries and bookings**
Healthy Moves in the Hunter provides a fun and friendly atmosphere for all ages to the keep our bodies moving and the doctor off our backs at very reasonable prices!
We do gentle, low-to-moderate intensity exercise classes based on the Heart Moves (Heart Foundation) principles for safe exercise. Classes aim to improve fitness, strength, balance, flexibility and smile lines!! All classes are designed to be fun, varied and social. The Belmont Neighbourhood Centre hosts 4 sessions a week. Monday and Thursdays at 8-8.55am are the more challenging classes and the 9-9.45am sessions are designed to be comfortable for people who are just starting out or need some chair support to exercise.
We also have a specialised class that focuses on certain aspects of health. Stretch and Balance sessions (8-8.55am on Fridays) introduce you to gentle but somewhat challenging stretching and balance movements to help improve overall flexibility and stability. Stretching can be beneficial for muscle health, injury prevention and joint range of movement. Balance exercises can benefit you by increasing stability and helping to prevent falls. This session includes a short relaxation session to finish.
Our participants always leave with smiles on their faces!!
Mondays and Thursdays
8am – 8.55am for beginners (general class)
9am – 9.45am for supported needs (supported class easier with chairs)
Wednesday
8am – 9am (Barre Class)
Fridays
8am – 8.55am (Stretch and Balance)
Cost: $7 (members) and $10 (non-members)
If you would like to get out there and do something in the community, the Hunter Volunteer Centre can help by connecting you to volunteering opportunities around Newcastle and The Hunter. You might want to garden; visit lonely people; assist in a community kitchen or work with the youth.
Due to Covid-19-related changes, HVC is not currently interviewing here at the Neighbourhood Centre. We will keep you posted on when that situation changes.
Cost: Free
Contact HVC on 4929 4424
If you’re struggling with your water bill, we can offer assistance. The Hunter Water Assistance Scheme is designed to help local residents who are struggling to pay their Hunter Water bill.
Call Kylie on 4947 0031 to make an appointment.
We offer JP service here at the Neighbourhood Centre.
Our JP can:
- witness a person making a statutory declaration or affidavit.
- to certify copies of original documents.
Call us on 4947 0031 to make an apppointment.
Lifeline and their accredited counsellors offer free face-to-face counselling services at BNC on Mondays. Appointments are made directly with Lifeline on 02 49402000. Clients should advise the appointment clerk if they wish to attend at the Belmont Neighbourhood Centre.
Lifeline offers a 24hr crisis telephone counselling service on 131114.
Email: reception@lifelinehunter.org.au
Belmont Neighbourhood Centre offers the Oz Harvest program for our community on a Friday.
The food is supplied by OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation. They collect quality excess produce from commercial outlets and bring it to our centre. The quantity and type of food delivered each week changes according to the season and availability.
Please note: We are unable to hold food – sorry.
To book an Oz Harvest food package please contact us on 49470031 between 9am – 11am on a Friday.
Pickup for those that book a food package is at 2pm from the top carpark.
BNC also provides crisis support for those who need food urgently – depending on what resources we have available.
The PlayStation Toy Library was established in 2011 in order to provide parents with a cost effective way for their children to experience a variety of toys to play with. Parents/grandparents can hire one or two toys per child for two weeks for a gold coin donation.
We also have a Party Pack offer which is available for 1 week and consists of either six different toys or six toys chosen as a set from our catalogue. There are costumes to hire for fancy-dress parties and a small mirror ball is available to add a touch of bling.
Please Note: Late return fees apply and we ask that parents ensure toys are cleaned before they are returned.
A parent/grandparent must be a member of the Toy Library to borrow items.
Cost: $12 for annual membership to the Toy Library. This includes membership for other BNC programs.
The library is open Mondays from 9am – 3pm via Reception.
The ancient practice of Tai Chi combines slow, deliberate movements, meditation, and breathing exercises. It is a martial art that can aid your circulation, balance, alignment and help to restore your energy. The postures include standing and balancing, and flow together in a slow graceful dance that keeps your body in constant motion
Class programs have been structured to cater for all levels, from beginners, through to those who wish to refine their present skill level, to the advanced levels of Moving Meditation and Weapon exercise sets.
There is no pressure for students to advance past the level they are comfortable with. Courses are suitable for all ages, regardless of fitness.
The courses are based on school terms.
Tuesdays
Advanced Class 9am
Beginners Class 10am
For more info, ring Kim on 0409 538 288
Email is belmont.aatc@gmail.com