Community group recognised for their efforts at gala awards night

A not-for-profit community group that helps the community in times of need has won one of the top awards at this year’s Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards.

Encircle Neighbourhood Centre was announced the winner in the SJ Walker Wayland Award for Not-for-profit Excellence during the awards ceremony at the Eatons Hill Hotel on Friday night.

Encircle Chief Executive Officer Chris Staines said the award belonged to all the staff, volunteers and community colleagues who work together to ensure the needs of the community are met.

“This award is a great reflection of the all the work of all the community organisations in Moreton Bay,” Chris said.

“I’d like to thank all of our colleagues who work so hard every day for the people in our community.

“And of course, we can’t do that without our community. It’s the people who are here tonight who allow us to do our work.”

Encircle has 45 employees across its neighbourhood centres, plus hundreds of volunteers who help run programs such as literacy groups, English conversational groups, and craft, just to name a few.

“We have a couple of hundred volunteers, including professionals, older people, younger people and those who just want to do something to give a hand and make a positive difference,” Chris said.

“A community organsiation can’t exist without its community, and we are very fortunate to have such a great community in Moreton Bay who support us.”

Support for when times get tough

Encircle is celebrating 35 years this year. There are three neighbourhood centres across the Moreton Bay Region which Encircle runs, including Pine Rivers, Kallangur and Redcliffe.

All neighbourhood centres are open 9am-3pm Monday to Friday and can support community members with emergency wellbeing assistance such as counselling, support for older people, family support, and homelessness, tenancy and housing support.

The team also collaborates with other community groups to support enhanced strength and resilience across the Moreton Bay Region.

The following services are available at each centre:

Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre: 685 Gympie Road, Lawnton - every weekday subject to availability - hot meals, clothing, blankets, toiletries, emergency food parcels, hot showers and laundry facilities.

Kallangur Neighbourhood Centre, 51 Marsden Road, Kallangur - toiletries and clothing, subject to availability.

Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Lamington Drive, Redcliffe - clothing, emergency food parcels, toiletries, blankets, hot meals, subject to availability.

About the awards

Encircle was one of 68 finalists nominated as part of this year’s awards.

An independent panel of 44 judges from a mix of public and private sector organisations from across South East Queensland looked through all the applications and determined the winners.

This was the fifth year the Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards were held.

The awards were presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council and delivered by Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism.

You can see the full list of winners and photo gallery of the night here.

Entries for the 2023 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards are now open. Click here to find out more.