Simone Zell, CEO of Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, leads a network of welcoming community hubs dotted across the state. , she shares what makes these spaces special, the role they play in people’s lives, and why they’re the heart of their communities, especially during Neighbourhood House Week running from 12-18 May.

What exactly is a Neighbourhood House? Neighbourhood Houses are wonderful resourceful spaces, dotted around communities in Tasmania, quietly achieving great things and at the same time bustling with volunteers and community members. We often say we are the ‘heart of our communities’ – where a little kindness goes a long way, a hub of activity that welcomes everyone, and where friendship, support and new connections can be found every day! I’d really encourage everyone to visit their local House to see how they work in action – they’re magical places!

What happens day-to-day in Neighbourhood Houses? Every day there are all sorts of different things happening in our Houses, ranging from community lunches, arts and craft groups for all ages, gardening, learner driver mentoring, exercise programs, and so much more. You can visit a Neighbourhood House for all kinds of reasons – for example, to find out what is happening in your local area, if you need someone to talk to, want to learn a new skill, or need help with cost-of-living pressures.

Tell us about Neighbourhood House Week. Neighbourhood House Week runs from 12-18 May, and this year the theme is ‘Ripples of Change’, recognising that small actions can lead to big impacts. During Neighbourhood House Week, Houses will be running all sorts of events celebrating their communities – you can see what’s happening near you by heading to our website, www.nht.org.au.

What’s a recent inspiring story from a Tasmanian Neighbourhood House you’d like to share? Nearly every time I visit a Neighbourhood House, I meet a volunteer or community member who initially came to the House because they were in a hard place. Now the House is a huge part of their life and they are a valued member of the House community. To me this represents what we are all about – while we do provide links to vital services, the magic and life-changing work we do is in building those local connections and fostering community resilience. It’s really special, and I don’t know of many other organisations that provide the same level of grassroots, community-led support that Houses do.

What has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of your role as CEO? Every day I hear great stories, but our members are also under increasing pressure. They are seeing more people in our communities suffering increasing hardship every day. And while Neighbourhood Houses have an uncanny ability to make a little funding go a long way, we are operating in a complex environment, and it is impossible to keep doing more with less. Our beating hearts are feeling the pressure. A central part of my role is to advocate to the Government for resources so that we can continue to provide safe, positive spaces for staff, volunteers, and community. This is challenging in the current economic environment, but very fulfilling when we achieve the practical support our communities need.

How can people give back to their community through their local Neighbourhood House? We couldn’t exist without the incredible support we have from volunteers. Together, we’re committed to creating resilient, thriving communities. Even if you only have a couple of hours a month, there will be a way to give back to your community through your local Neighbourhood House. Whether supporting people with technology, cooking up a storm for a community lunch, or helping in the community garden, there’s something for everyone. A big challenge is recruiting skilled local people to be on the community-led boards. So, if you have a passion for community and have governance skills (or a willingness to learn), you could ask about joining your local board and help keep the heart beating strongly.

To find your local Neighbourhood House, visit our website. Liking and following your local Neighbourhood House on Facebook is also a great way to stay in the loop!