HORSHAM’S Community Connections Cafe is one step closer to becoming a reality.
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The social enterprise was one of the successful Pick My Project ideas from the Wimmera region, receiving a total of $186,680 in funding.
Once up-and-running, the cafe will assist migrant women and secondary school leavers with a disability to connect to ongoing and long-term employment.
Partners in the project are Horsham Special School, Woodbine and the Centre for Participation.
Centre for Participation learning and community development manager Robbie Millar said the cafe would help benefit a number of community members.
“It’s mostly around social inclusion, so the two groups that will benefit are two groups that are marginalised. The aim is build their learning and skill-bases in a working environment to be able to build the skills for employment,” he said.
Horsham Special School and students run the cafe at Federation University’s Wimmera campus.
“But once they get to 18, there’s no further options for them unless they go into open employment. They often do more supported employment and training before they can get into that,” he said.
“With the migrant women, it’s all about developing those connections to the community and feeling a part of something that’s bigger.
“A lot of migrant women come with very little family or social support, so this will be about giving them a place where they feel connected and supported, but also opportunities to continue to learn English and feel a part of the society.
“We’re also hoping it will be a place where local artists can display and sell their works, as well as local products. There will also be a meeting room space that will be hired out.”
The Department of Premier and Cabinet will hold a Plan my Project workshop in Horsham on November 28.
“After that meeting, the project will really go onto the next step and we will be able to figure out what the requirements are,” he said.
“Funding needs to be finalised by the middle of January and the government will release the money the following month. Our project team has already met and we have had branding sessions.
“We’ve also been talking with a local real estate agent about a location and we are finalising that with the landlord. It will be in the Horsham CBD.”
Mr Millar said he hoped building on the cafe would start early next year.
