THE Anglican Church has handed over the operation of Eaglehawk community centre, Our Shed, to Bendigo Access Employment.
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Our Shed was previously operated by New Horizons Welfare Services, an organisation of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo.
It was established in the wake of the 2009 bushfires and provides participants, many who live with a disability, an opportunity to work together, share skills and develop new friendships.
The transfer was announced on Monday at a morning tea involving Our Shed volunteers and representatives from Bendigo Access Employment and New Horizons.
Chair of New Horizons and Bishop Andrew Curnow said the transfer ensured a sustainable future for Our Shed.
"It’s grown to a point where we don’t have the management or the infrastructure to sustain it," Bishop Curnow said.
He said New Horizons had been looking for a new operator for about 12 months and began talks with Bendigo Access Employment late last year.
He said the new operator was a good fit because it had more resources in training and disability care.
"The work we started initially was making kindling for lighting fires but the number of people attending has grown," Bishop Curnow said.
There are two other Our Sheds in Nyah West, near Swan Hill, and Red Cliffs, outside Mildura, which Bishop Curnow hopes will transfer to other organisations in the next few years.
"I think the role of the church is to identify needs in the community and start something, but whether we’ll stay sustaining it forever and day, I don’t think is necessarily our role," he said.
"It's not because we want to leave Eaglehawk, we will continue to focus on how we can serve the community of Eaglehawk."
About 80 people use Our Shed every week and participate in programs including art classes, woodwork and making kindling.
Our Shed's motto is "everyone equal, everyone with purpose, everyone welcome".