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Community Hub Report 2023 11

1. Leisure Time Report

The Leisure Time (LT) Outreach Program was started more than 45 years ago in response to the congregation wanting to host an activity for persons of the community who found themselves in a vulnerable situation. This program was set up with a constitution, committee of management and volunteers. Guests were referred from a number of Monash agencies, and received funding from Monash Council to help with catering and outings.

Over the years the program has changed and with a diminishing number of volunteers the committee at its July meeting felt that it could not support the Leisure Time and suggested that it be closed.

Conversations were held with various volunteers and the Community Hub and the following proposal was put to the LT Committee meeting in October:

  1. Dissolve the LT Constitution as it is no longer relevant.
  2. Create less formal guidelines and goals
  3. Close LT bank accounts and transfer the funds its funds to a ‘line’ administered by the GWUC Finance team. This would still enable a record of expenses and income and reporting to external funding bodies such as Monash Council Grants.

  4. The ability to offer free transport to guests will be remarkedly reduced due to a lack of volunteers. It was agreed to call for drivers but to also encourage alternative transport arrangements such as half-price taxis vouchers and MyAgedCare funding.

  5. The LT committee will remain as part of the Community Hub Mission Group as a LT Sub Group.
  6. The responsibilities of the LT Sub Group would to be responsible for the welfare of the guests and volunteers, food and hospitality plans, training and supervising volunteers, a newsletter, meeting and liaising with the church office/ministry team as required.

Aspects of LT that would remain:

  1. A monthly Afternoon Tea would be held on the first Monday of the month, February until December each year.
  2. Police Checks and Safe Church for vulnerable adults would apply to the volunteers.
  3. The number of guests would be restricted to allow safe use of the fellowship area.
  4. Gold Coin donation would be requested from guests to cover expenses
  5. To continue to maintain our entry in the Monash Community Director to connect with potential new guests from the wider community.
  6. To identify potential new guests from our .

With the above proposal, the LT Committee:

  1. Seek approval from Church Council to the above changes
  2. Inform the congregation of the reformed administration of LT through Kingsway and the next congregational meeting.

SusanKaroly
LT Committee Coordinator
10 November 2023

CommunityHubReport202311 (last edited 2023-11-14 23:10:14 by DavidMorgan)