Singleton Neighbourhood Centre Inc. (SNCI) is a not-for-profit, incorporated community organisation formed in 1974 to provide a variety of community welfare services to people in the locality of the Singleton Local Government Area. This area spans from Branxton in the south to Ravensworth in the north and includes the communities of Howe’s Valley on the Putty Road. On a day-to-day basis the SNCI supports, advocates, refers and informs a wide cross-section of local people including teenagers, individual adults, families and aged pensioners.

On 1 April 1974 thirty-nine people attended a public meeting at the Singleton Methodist Hall, Elizabeth Street, Singleton in order to consider a proposal to form a ‘community aid service’ for the local community. On 28 May 1974 a management committee was elected comprising of: Chaplain Hessey (Chairperson), Mr C Burnett, Rev. C Ford, Dr. J Robinson, Mr J Seamer, Mrs M Bourke, Mrs S Hearse, Mr L Moore and Mr K Sneddon.

A deputation of the committee visited Gosford Community Services to gain information on how that service operated and the Gosford Community Services Handbook was used as a basis for the SNC policy development.

Funding to develop the service was sought from the Australian Assistance Plan, Singleton Shire Council, Department of Youth and Community Services and the Department of Social Security and the centre opened on 14 November 1974 at York Street. Hours of business were 10 til 3pm three days per week with six volunteers running the service.

The centre flourished and in 1975 a co-ordinator, Shirley Heuston was appointed, and then in 1976 Miriam Knight commenced employment as the new co-ordinator. 1976 saw Irene Gleeson elected as Chairperson and Paul Gray as Vice Chairperson. Irene and Paul were driving forces that guided the centre through the formative years and were recognised accordingly, Irene had the premises at 4 Castlereagh Street named after her ‘Gleeson Cottage’, and Paul is a Patron and life member.

The centre began to evolve and in 1978 a grant of $2,000 by DoCS established the Neighbourhood Centre at Bathurst Street on 7 August 1978. At that time the centre ran vacation care, playgroups, craft days, cooking classes, music classes, yoga, spinning and weaving, pottery, junior fishing and card days.

In May 1981 the Community Information Centre and the Neighbourhood Centre amalgamated but retained separate premises at Burns Lane and Bathurst Street. Further education grants from the Board of Adult Education were used to hold ‘slim living’ classes and basic gardening classes and in 1985 a further grant from that source enabled a part time person to be employed to co-ordinate education courses in Singleton.

In 1986 the centre was known as C.A.I.R – Community Aid Information and Referral Service, it became incorporated in 1988 and altered its name in 1989 to the present name Singleton Neighbourhood Centre Inc.