Community Activation and Social Isolation in Benalla

Benalla Rural City Council received the grant, which assists local people to maintain important connections with family, friends and community during COVID-19.

This CASI program initially ran from June 2020 to December 2020, but has been extended to September 2021.

*** Tomorrow Today Full Impact project to give young people a voice in community

The first component of this initiative was to provide emotional support to people who are isolated and vulnerable by expanding the Victorian COVID hotline with a local hotline number.

People reached through this hotline were linked to local networks that provided them with practical needs and social activities.

The second part of this program was the funding to establish or build on existing local support networks.

Many local organisations participated in this committee or community connector.

*** Benalla Festival cancelled for a second year in a row

These included representatives from:

● Benalla Rural City Council;

● Benalla Health, Waminda Community House;

● Tomorrow Today Foundation;

● Victoria Police;

● Benalla U3A;

● Benalla Men’s Shed; and

● Age Friendly Benalla.

*** Foreshore development plans released

Some of the issues identified were homelessness/sleeping rough, alcohol and drug dependency and family violence.

Isolation and loneliness, especially in single person households, became an increasing issue as the many lockdowns continued.

With the length of COVID-19 restrictions there was an increase in the number of people experiencing mental health issues.

Practical assistance included Waminda roadside relief, which oversaw the distribution of food, toiletry items and masks to needy recipients.

*** Benalla Show scaled back with public unable to attend

Waminda also organised skills workshops for 16 to 25 year olds.

These workshops included the responsible serving of alcohol certificate, meal planning and cooking.

The Baptist Church assisted with making showers available, three times a week, for people sleeping rough.

Forty COVID-19 bags were dispensed to the Aboriginal community by local Aboriginal Health Worker, Chris Thorne.

There was an initial small grant round to local sporting clubs and halls in outlying communities around Benalla for assistance with hand sanitiser, wipes and other cleaning or hygiene measures.

*** Jenifer finds her dream career in Benalla thanks to Working for Vic program

The CASI program also supported small grants to encourage schools, kindergartens and other organisations with a youth focus to connect the community particularly through inter-generational projects.

Tomorrow Today ran a Come and Try Day for 80 young people in the four to 18-year age group.

The final stage of the project is to help the community identify what services and activities are available to them in Benalla.

Community groups, clubs and businesses will be invited to update their details on the Who, What, Where Benalla (www.benallaservices.com.au) website before other printed promotional material is produced.

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