Community and Cultural Connections Inc have been helping people in the Inner West of Sydney since 1976. We currently receive government funding to run two much needed programs for Arabic and Vietnamese speaking older people but are not funded for our administration expenses- electricity, rent, insurance, photocopier rent, phones and internet, our bookkeeper, administration staff and Executive Officer are all currently being paid from our savings account. These much needed services are at risk and our clients will be left hanging without your help. CCCI will close it doors on the 30th of June 2014 unless we raise $54,000. The burden of care will be transferred to other local providers who are already at capacity and/or under stress

Community and Cultural Connections Inc. is a locally managed community centre committed to advancing social justice within the community by:
-Supplying culturally appropriate and supportive services to people in Sydney's Inner West who are experiencing disadvantage
-Building and enhancing social connections and capacity; and
-Fostering inclusion, access and equity for all service users.

We provide free and confidential information, referrals and advocacy both over the telephone and face-to face. We can provide assistance across a wide range of areas, including assistance dealing with Centrelink payments, housing problems, or even assistance dealing with your bills or debt.

Our bilingual staff speak:
-Arabic
-Vietnamese
-Mandarin
-English and we use interpreters where required.

The HACC program offers a Day Care program once per week on either a Wednesday or Friday morning. This program aims to reduce isolation, educate people on tools and services, keep people active, increase independence and enjoy a lovely meal together. Service users are taken on group outings on a regular basis around Sydney.

Our social support program offers individual support, taking the form of advocacy or simply to reduce isolation. Services are tailored to suit individual clients. Our services are totally confidential.

All information, referral and advocacy services are provided for free. Interpreters can be provided to help you communicate in your language.

Free English classes and computer classes in community languages run from our office each week.

CCCI also auspice Community Threads a sewing group for disadvantaged women which is held once a week from our office.

We are currently in partnership with other community organisations to launch a support group for asylum seekers and a youth theatre group.

We have 12 volunteers working in their area of interest.

CCCI have a lot of exciting projects being implemented in 2014, but we can't do it without your help.

Please check out our website www.ccci.org.au or contact us for more information.

Community and Cultural Connections are currently preparing to close after almost 40 years of service. Funds raised will be used to cover administrative costs to ensure we keep our doors open and continue to provide these essential services to people in the Inner West of Sydney

The money raised will go towards electricity, phone bills, insurance, photocopier rent, stationary supplies and to pay the wages for our bookkeeper, administrator and executive officer.

Community organisations require the support of their local community to continue to receive donations and funding which keep our doors open. CCCI are currently making partnerships with local organisations to ensure we receive the support we need to get our new projects off the ground. As our name is not well known throughout NSW we are currently in the process of running campaigns, advertising and promoting what we do. We plan to continue to collaborate with other organisations, talk to the local community to see what they want and need and grow our 'brand' and client base so we can reach and support more Australians.