North Belconnen Community Association Inc. – A Warm Welcome
It is with great delight we announce a new community partnership with the wonderful community who make up the North Belconnen Community Association Inc. (NBCA). After a recent request from the recently appointed NBCA Chief Executive Officer, Tim Kapustin, the subsequent meeting with Tim here at Karinya House was a joy.
The NBCA is a familiar association to the Casework Team here at Karinya House. There have been a number of service connections over the years, when there is a need for child care and childhood education support or advice in the North Belconnen Area. The Team at NBCA have always been happy to assist and provide advice, and we are so excited to be part of a formal partnership with this inspiring community association.
“Established in November 1975, almost 45 years ago, the NBCA provides Early Childhood Education and Care at two locations (Cooinda/Charnwood and Flynn) as well as Administration Support throughout Canberra for other Early Education and Care Services. The NBCA is managed by a team of staff in conjunction with an elected voluntary Management Committee. The NBCA is also a not for profit Community Association, incorporated in the ACT under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (AIA). The NBCA has undertaken significant work in the months of 2020, amidst the stresses of Covid-19, and part of this work was identifying an opportunity for community engagement, where synergies with the strategic directions of the NBCA could be identified.” (NBCA Website 2020)
Fortunately for our service partners, Roundabout Canberra and ourselves, Karinya House, based on nominations from within the NBCA community, we were recently advised by Tim of our selection and the confirmation of this partnership by the NBCA following our acceptance of the nomination. We are so privileged and proud to be supported by the NBCA, alongside our good friends at Roundabout Canberra. The synergies were very easily identified, with the support of women and children, impacted by domestic and family violence and other vulnerabilities, being paramount to us all.
As Tim has said,
Not long after I commenced as CEO at the NBCA, I had a number of suggestions and requests for the NBCA and centres to fundraise and assist the Canberra community.
Whilst it would be great to get involved in all organisations and requests, it was important that the NBCA have a planned and strategic approach by selecting a nominated Canberra organisation to partner with for fundraising and community involvement. This would allow us to focus on supporting a specific organisation that had a connection to the NBCA. I recently sent out a Community survey to all NBCA families and staff. This was to help get an indication how and what involvement NBCA staff and families would like us to have in the Community.
In summary the survey results revealed the vast majority of families and staff are interested in supporting a charity/Community organisation through either donating goods or partnering with them to help raise funds. In relation to the type of organisation, there was definitely a clear indication that assisting vulnerable children and domestic violence were close to everyone’s hearts. Based on the feedback, research began of Canberra organisations that fit the above profiles from the survey. I have also had meetings with some of these organisations to gain a better understanding of how we could partner with them.
I am pleased to announce for the remainder of 2020 and throughout 2021, the NBCA will partner with Karinya House and Roundabout Canberra. When researching charity partners, both Karinya House and Roundabout were fantastic organisations to partner with as they assist a variety of vulnerable groups in crisis including children and babies, women suffering from homelessness, and domestic violence victims. Our involvement with these two organisations will have a number of different approaches including item donation drives, fundraising or even a community activity requiring staff and family involvement.
Thank you for being a part of the NBCA Community.
“Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Tim Kapustin, Chief Executive Officer, North Belconnen Community Association Inc.
You can read more from Tim on the NBCA Website about this fabulous partnership. We congratulate the NBCA on their community service over the last 45 years, and we welcome you as part of our village too!
The NBCA Community is welcome to make financial donations also to support Karinya House as part of this Partnership. We appreciate everyone is impacted by the events (locally, the bushfires and globally, the Covid-19 pandemic), and we value as always, every single donation to Karinya House. Your donation gives the gift of time, space, safety and personal support.