The LGBTI Regional & Rural PRIDE Centre

The Myers Street VACountry Community Hub has a long and beloved history supporting the LGBTI community in the Bendigo region, from its original days under the care of the Country Awareness Network to present day with VACountry. Currently the Hub is not suitable for community use, with holes in the floor and rotting infrastructure, leaving it unsafe and closed to the public. Our project idea is to work in partnership with local community groups to renovate and restore the building, turning it into the first ever LGBTI PRIDE Centre in Central Victoria.

Our project proposal is to turn the old Myers Street building into the first ever Regional PRIDE Centre providing the following supports to the community:
- A community drop in space where people can access LGBTI specific resources
- A community kitchen to support community social groups and events
- Counselling rooms to provide LGBTI specific counselling and peer support services
- A training/meeting room accessible for free to LGBTI community groups
- Office space where likeminded organisations can co-locate
- An open community garden
- A BBQ & family play zone where community members can gather for special events