OUTLOOK Community Centre has received funding to enable the service to open for an extra 10 hours a week.

The centre, based in Pakenham, is among 27 neighbourhood houses to share in $480,660 of funding from the State Government.

Eastern Victoria MP Johan Scheffer said the funding boost would allow more residents to access a range of social support and educational services tailored to community needs.

He said the Outlook Community Centre would receive new funding for 10 hours a week.

“When communities are faced with significant challenges, like bushfires or the financial downturn Neighbourhood Houses become a place people go to for all kinds of support,” Mr Scheffer said.

“Many people rely on their local Neighbourhood House as a place to socialise, access local support services, learn new skills or find a job, so our ongoing commitment to them is an investment in local skills, infrastructure and social inclusion,”

The Neighbourhood House Co-ordination Program provides funding to more than 370 Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.