The centre provides social and therapeutic activities for people with mental health issues each Thursday and has been running for 14 years.

However, O’Brien Centre secretary Tania Naven and bus driver Mike Bayada said they need a new volunteer cook, woodwork instructor and art teacher for the 25 to 30 clients that attended each week during school terms.

They said of the 10 current volunteers only six were available each week while the others had casual jobs and took part when they could.

Along with the activities, the clients also have a group lunch each Thursday and Ms Naven said a volunteer cook would take the pressure off existing workers and allow them to do more administrative tasks.

She said it had been 12 months since they had a regular cook to make healthy meals from vegetables grown at the centre.

“We want an awesome cook though, we don’t just want any cook,” Mr Bayada said.

“They really seem to respond to a good feed.”

Ms Naven said the group meal also gave participants a social outlet.

Art and woodwork were also popular subjects they said they need help to run.

She said the art instructor did not need to be a qualified teacher, just someone who loves art, can set up the room and watch the clients as they work.

“We have a lot of great art stuff in there, some of them are really talented, we went to an art exhibition in Sydney last year [for Mental Health week] and they went really well and were commended,” Ms Naven said.

She said woodwork has also been a popular activity but the instructor would need to have OH and S qualifications and be covered by insurance.

As well as seeking new volunteers Ms Naven said they were also appealing to business owners to donate to the centre so they could buy a new Toyota HiAce commuter bus to replace their current bus, which she said was on its way out.

For more information, to donate or volunteer phone Tania Naven on 0488 791 086, phone the centre on Thursdays on 6369 8981.

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au