CHARLTON NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE

 
​December was a very busy time here at the House with many activities across a broad range of age groups. Our early morning swim sessions and Gentle Water exercises continued, with the warmer weather being much appreciated by the attendees.
As well as Santa’s mailbox being available for children to drop their very important letters in to Father Christmas, parents were able to have photos taken and printed of their children with Santa at the Band Rotunda. A huge thank-you goes to all the volunteers who help make these events special for Charlton’s young people.
We were very pleased to host a free Gingerbread House making afternoon for around 20 excited children thanks to Buloke Shires CASI Fund.  There was plenty of icing, lollies and fun games enjoyed by those attending, and some delicious gingerbread projects taken home for the families.
​
A fantastic night was had by all who attended the Charlton Neighbourhood Houses Dive In Movie ‘Space Jam 2’at the Charlton Pool. With support from the Rex Theatre, GrainCorp, and again, Buloke Shire’s CASI funding,  the feedback we received was terrific, and will hopefully lead to similar events.
Our ‘Tech Tuesday’ support sessions will be returning in February for the cost of $15 per half hour. Bookings are essential by phoning 0473 759 456. We are also looking at hosting more formal computer and device upskilling sessions during the year.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign that ran across the Buloke Shire a special free ‘Sip and Paint’ event was held at the Cricket Club Hotel. A large group of ladies enjoyed each others company while creating some wonderful artworks.
We were once again pleased to be happy assisting with the towns Australia Day celebration by compiling ‘welcome packs’ for newcomers to Charlton over the past 12 months. If you are new to town and were unable to make it along, drop in to the  Neighbourhood House to collect yours when convenient.

​School holiday activities kicked off last Friday with the Charlton Neighbourhood House hosting a session of pencil case decorating in the foyer of the Rex Theatre. Hosted by Jo Phillips, 9 primary age children did some fantastic work with the free blank pencil cases and bags provided, and all walked away with a terrific personal creation. It was also a great catch-up time for the adults as well who could enjoy a cuppa during the fun session.

Next Friday, July 9, from 10:00am the good times continue back at the Rex, with decorated greeting cards. Again, ideal for primary age children, registrations are being taken now by calling the Charlton Neighbourhood House on 0473 759 456. This is another free activity for Charlton’s children.

Charlton Neighbourhood House is Celebrating Youth Week 2021

We are excited to announce that the Charlton Neighbourhood House will be celebrating Youth Week starting on the 26th of June until the 2nd of July. Youth Week is a state-wide celebration of the talents, achievements and contributions of young people aged 12 to 25, and we are proud to be celebrating the many ways that young people in Charlton can contribute to, and are valued by, the community.

Charlton Neighbourhood House are the proud recipients of a Victorian Government Youth Week Grant, to help fund a community initiative to mark the annual week. The funding grant will implement the ‘Charlton Means…’ Youth Art Project. A team of young volunteers, led by Tessa Fitzpatrick, a Charlton Neighbourhood House Committee Member will be going around Charlton with posters and prompts written on then, and encouraging fellow young people to write down what ‘Charlton Means’ to them on a poster. These messages will then be photographed and shared throughout the community via our Facebook page, and in the form of a photobook that can be viewed throughout the community.

You can also drop into the Neighbourhood House at any point during the week to be involved, and young people will also be able to contribute to the project, after Youth Week, at the Youth Space we are running on every Thursday afternoon during the school term, from 3pm till 5:30pm.

We are also running a social media campaign for the youth who grew up in Charlton but have moved away from the community to enable them to submit photographs of what Charlton Means to them, and of the places within the community that are important to them. These images will also be combined with the messages captured during Youth Week and form a part of the ‘Charlton Means…’ Youth Art book.
​
To get involved with either of these projects, contact us at the Charlton Neighbourhood House by emailing us coord@charltonnh.org.au, through our website, Facebook page or pop in and say hello. 

The Charlton Neighbourhood is excited to announce they are offering free movie tickets for the 2:00pm screening of Peter Rabbit 2 at the Charlton Rex Theatre on Sunday 27.
With funding provided from their community partner Australia Post, this is the second opportunity Charlton residents have had to take advantage of a free film; the other being the recent showing of ‘Blackbird’. Tickets must be pre-booked prior to 1:00pm on June 27 through Humanitix via the following link. https://events.humanitix.com/cnh-kids-movie/tickets

​Charlton skies were recently filled with colourful kites as children up to primary school age were given free kites to celebrate Children’s Week. The Charlton Neighbourhood House was successful in securing a grant through the Victorian Governments Department of Education, which went the majority of the way to cover the costs. Initially it was planned to have a family kite flying day similar to the successful event held last year, but with COVID-19 guidelines still needing to be observed, that was not possible. Instead kites were distributed to the Charlton P-12 College, St Josephs Primary School, Charlton Pre-school and the Charlton Playgroup. Just as much fun was had by children decorating their kites as flying them, and if lack of wind was an issue, some imaginative children used household fans.  
It is hoped to again see the return of the huge decorative kites that were flown last year in Charlton, and for families to bring their kites out anytime the winds allow it.