Hornsby Connect: Welcoming the isolated across the shire.

HORNSBY is welcoming the isolated, abused and misunderstood, thanks to a new community program beginning in March.

HORNSBY is welcoming the isolated, abused and misunderstood, thanks to a new community program beginning in March.

Working with local council and state government consultation, the Hornsby Connect Community Hub, which will be located at St Peters Anglican Church and the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai PCYC Performing Arts Centre every Tuesday, will provide a range of activities designed to better include isolated members of the community according to President John Lockyer.

“We are addressing those people who are socially isolated throughout our community,” Mr Lockyer said.

Hornsby connect is a community hub and kitchen starting up to support those less fortunate throughout the community, Volunteers will be at St Peters Parish Centre in Hornsby. (Front) Bill Bradley. L-R: John Lockyer, david Nathan, Steve Hopwood and Robert Denham.

“Food is a great way for people to socialise, so we are developing a community kitchen and food distribution program to provide for people that are doing it tough.”

Hoping to combat three key social issues, from isolation experienced by the elderly or lone carers to cultural separation felt by the non-English speaking community, Mr Lockyer alongside his army of volunteers hope to make these issues a thing of the past in the Hornsby shire.

“I have spent a bit of time myself, running a large community hub in another region,” Mr Lockyer said

“I have had a lot of experience in providing for people that are socially disadvantaged, it was a no brainier to open this up to the community. I had the opportunity some years ago to see first hand the practical way community hubs can run. Hornsby is a large region and there are a lot of people that we believe may need support. We tend to think that people that have a roof to live under are safe and secure but in some cases some people are in heartbreaking situations.”

Hornsby connect is a community hub and kitchen starting up to support those less fortunate throughout the community, Volunteers will be at St Peters Parish Centre in Hornsby. (Front) Bill Bradley. L-R: John Lockyer, david Nathan, Steve Hopwood and Robert Denham.

Inspired to close the gaps in their community, the Hornsby Connect organisation is in search of a collection of volunteers to provide support through a range of methods for the group meetings.

“We have been planning this initiative for over 12 months, It takes a while for things to fall into place but everything.”