The scent of eggs, bacon and fresh bread from the local market is only half of what keeps the 70 to 100 attendees of Willmot Community Hub’s community breakfast coming back each week. It’s also a place for people to connect with one another and ask for support.
The communal breakfast has run for over eight years. It is a foundational program of the Hub, where people from all over the area are invited to share conversation and food every Tuesday morning from 9am to 11am.
“Many people have come to the program either by walking past and getting invited in by us, or by community members inviting people in off the street. A lot of returning attendees will also bring friends along,” says Delander. “It’s really all about slowly building relationships with community.”
There is also a range of activities like soccer and drawing for the older kids; and an outdoor play area for the younger children to enjoy. The setting is warm and welcoming with Indigenous art made by local community artists displayed around the Hub.
These communal breakfasts are a good example of the way the Hub works: we build relationships and trust. When people are having a tough time, they know the Hub is there to help. “It has continued to be our most important program because without the foundational relationship built on Tuesdays, we couldn’t do our work,” says Delander.
We are engaging with one of the most disadvantaged communities. They often don’t have a lot of trust in support services and systems, so we have to work really hard to earn trust. By approaching it in the way we do, we have been able to build relationships where community members feel respected and heard
Acting Manager, Western Sydney Programs
“It takes a lot of courage for someone to come up and say, ‘Can you help me?’ and it’s an honour for us to help meet that need.”
