Newsletter header
April E-News 
In this issue
Workshops
Courses Programs & Activities
Outreach Program
Byron Youth Service Team

Greetings!

As we move past the first quarter of 2014, the BYS team is churning out the support for young people in the shire. There are currently over 70 young people receiving individual support tailored to their needs. This week a new group of 12 young people will commence an 8-week program helping them to either stay engaged in education or prepare for work. A young Mum's group is about to start. An enterprise program designed to assist young jewellery makers learn new skills including how to market their product is about to begin. Young people in Suffolk Park can look out for some fun activities in the Park for the rest of the year. BYS youth workers are on the streets on Friday nights in Byron Bay supporting young people at risk. As soon as we find the funding we'll be out there on Saturdays as well. Go team!

 

And if you are keen to make a difference in the lives & futures of young people in our community check out our regular giving program on www.bys.org.au/donate

 

Thanks to all the wonderful sponsors for their support once again! 

Take care, 

Peter McGlennon & all at BYS

Byron: 6685 7777
Mullum: 6684 3086

 

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Latest News


Mullumbimby Youth Cottage


This month the boys from the Year 10 group participated in a Dolphin Dreaming Day at Byron Bay 
Lighthouse. It was facilitated by local Arakwal elders Nigel Stewart and Delta Kay. The boys learnt about many aspects of Aboriginal culture, how to respect our local environment, its people and its birds and animals. They enjoyed some educational and fun activities and were given a tour of the lighthouse. We had lunch together and it was a day enjoyed by everyone. We are planning to do the program with the Year 9 boys in the new future. All other groups are progressing well and the girls are doing some beautiful, creative work whilst sharing openly their issues, feelings & opinions. These discussions lead to positive support and ideas from their peers and youth workers and strategies for creating healthier lifestyles. For individual support please call Deb on 0409170062.
  
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
Workshops

BYT logo
BYT 2014
 Byron Youth Theatre

April 11th was a momentous occasion for BYT as they performed their latest piece on sexual health at the PASH conference held at the Byron Sports and Cultural Centre.  Attended by over 400 people, 250 of which were young people who came from 15 regional schools, with highly respected Key note speakers from interstate as well as many local professionals, the inaugural Positive Adolescent Sexual Health conference was a huge success.
As one of several workshop choices during the day, BYT had to turn away some people on both scheduled performances as the room was full to capacity each time.
The response to every scene which covered issues such as first experiences, sexually transmitted infections, abuse, sexual identity and orientation and love and intimacy was overwhelmingly positive.  Lisa Apostolides, Director of BYT facilitated some group discussion activities afterwards that allowed audience and Company members to interact and share more on areas of interest.
Adult audience members including a local Lawyer who deals specifically with young people and a Project Officer from the Department of Education and Communities for NSW congratulated the Company on their moving performances and creative and powerful devising skills.  
There is already talk of a local public performance for those who were unable to attend the conference and to get some strong messages out into the community on sexual health as well as more schools performances next Term if funding is sourced.
The very next weekend was BLUES FESTIVAL and out came the infamous Brain suit which was worn by Sahaj Blatt, Hayley Acton, Ebony Webb and Bridie Duff on different days accompanied by Lisa Apostolides.  Much fun was had even in the extreme heat and dust with festival goers as they shared the message of having fun at festivals without getting messy!, looking after yourself and each other and going slow on the alcohol consumption.  BYT are very grateful to festival organisers and BYS to get the opportunity to go to Blues each year.
The Company resume their regular meeting session TUESDAY 29th April 4-6pm at the YAC and are excited to start their Street& Event Theatre project made possible by Byron Youth Council Youth Activity Grant.  During this time they will create a specific piece that can be taken ( hopefully) to Splebdour in the Grass, Mullum Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and the Falls Festival.  They will benefit from a facilitated session by Valley Lipcer, local Director of RoundAbout Theatre who provides Street theatre entertainment interstate as well as locally.
BYT were disappointed to miss out on a Youth Development and Support Grant applied for last year as the current Government have decided to close the entire program!  They are eagerly awaiting to hear on a couple of other grants that will enable them to develop their Mental health project further as well as a new piece focusing on illicit drugs.
For more information about any projects, how to join, how to donate or more grants that we can apply for please contact Lisa on 0403023693 or byronyouththeatre2481@gmail.com or facebook page: Byron Youth Theatre  

 

  

   

 

BYS Creative Arts Collective FREE Workshops

 

 

Empowering young people aged 12-24 to be creative & enterprising!

 

Learn how to make hand made art books and jewellery

then make profits by selling your work though local shops.

 

 

School Term 2:

9 x Wednesday afternoon sessions from 4 to 6pm

commencing April 30th and ending June 25th

 

 

Byron Youth Activity Center

1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay

 

For more information or to enrol contact Artist & course Tutor

Gisela Conechado on 0410161747

 

BYRON YOUNG MUM'S GROUP

 

FRIDAY 16th of May at 10.30

 

For mums and expectant mums (25 & under)

Friends and family welcome to come along

 

At the Byron Youth Activity Centre

1 Gilmore Crescent

 

Contact Lotte 0477 591 555

byronyoungmums@gmail.com

 

 

Courses Programs & Activities

Youth Connections Program 2014 

Photo credit: Shakirra Gream - Winner for 2008 SNAP Youth Photography Competition 

  

Youth Connections (YC) fosters a positive future for our community through the empowerment of 'at-risk' youth aged 11-19.

The YC program works with Byron and Mullumbimby high schools, other organisations, families & individuals to identify young people who may be experiencing barriers to successful learning outcomes.

YC then supports those young people to remain engaged in education or secure employment opportunities. YC supports clients to build personal resilience & address barriers in their life and is delivered at both the Byron Youth Activity Centre (YAC) & the Mullumbimby Cottage.

 

Young People who are in need of support can come down to the YAC 

1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay 

& speak to a youth worker 

Monday to Thursday, 10am - 3pm.



>In.scibe< is a new Byron Shire Youth Arts Mentoring Project. It is an opportunity for youth in the shire to get involved with other creative youths in an 8 week program. The program will involve arts mentoring, exploration into the diverse field of street art*, creative personal exploration, group work and guest regional artists, leading into the opportunity to >in.scribe< your own creative voice in the production on Street Art in Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads & Byron Bay. This is a pilot program in conjunction with KULCHA JAM & Regional Arts Fund

*Street Art can involve any art in the public sphere, murals, installations, participatory, environmental, installments, moss graffiti, sculptural....

 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for project starting in mid April.

Only 10 Places available for further information, referrals and application process contact: Karma Barnes 0450707709  Nic Kain 0403991222

inscribeyoutharts@live.com   www.facebook.com/In.scribe

 

Parenting Program  

BYRON YOUTH SERVICE

 

Invites parents & caregivers of teens to join in a FREE eight week

 

Parenting Teenagers Program

 

 Every Monday from 1pm-3.00pm

 (from 5th May to 23rd June 2014)

 

 The Byron Youth Activity Centre 

I Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay

 

 The program will focus on skills and information that may assist you to

improve your relationship with your teenager!

                             

     For more information or to book call Rosalie Bryant on  0431 524 044


YAC Rock Cafe logo
 

 

 
Outreach Program

STREET CRUISE
  BYS bus

Cruising the Byron Shire on Friday nights from 8pm till 12am.  

   

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR AWESOME SPONSORS!!!!

EARTH AND SEA PIZZA

LIGHTHOUSE PIZZA

BYRON CAPTURED WATER

and

BYRON BAY POLICE  

for allowing us to park the bus on their property!  

 

Your donations are invaluable!

 
Click on link below to donate!

Give Now  

Byron Youth Service Team

Management Committee

  Richard Heazlewood-Ross         Chairperson
 Ian Leggo                                 Treasurer
 Rob Eldridge                             Secretary
Mark Smith                                Member
Philip Preston                             Member
Caston Smith                             Member
 Nicqui Yazdi                            BUDDI Rep
  Stephanie Sims           Staff Representative

Byron Youth Service Workers
 
 
Peter McGlennon                                              Director
Deb Pearse                          Mullum - Youth Connections 
Rosalie Bryant                        Byron - Youth Connections
Karen Ford                              Byron - Links To Learning
Stephanie Sims                                 Fundraising/Events
 
David, Jemma, Marti & Traci
Casual Youth Workers

     

Community Project Workers 

Steve, Odette & Angela                               BCC Flexi-School
Chad Kolcze                                             The Uncle Project
Simon Menlove                                         The Uncle Project
 Lisa Apostolides                      BYT Youth Theatre Co-ordinator
Nicqui Yazdi                                  BUDDI CDAT Co-ordinator
Phil Preston                                  STEER Project Coordinator