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June E-News 
Newsletter Subtitle Month Year
In this issue
Workshops
Courses Programs & Activities
Outreach Program
Byron Youth Service Team

The YAC is Back!

 

I had the privilege of meeting with some of the people who got the Youth Activity Centre up and going nearly 30 years ago. Good community people just wanted somewhere for local young people to go and something for them to do. They rolled up their sleeves and did what had to be done. They got the land and built the YAC. They were the original "Friends of the YAC". We have respectfully called them the "YAC Elders". The YAC Elders are now helping us to regenerate Friends of the YAC. We will be looking for people who share our care for local young people and can get excited about recreating the YAC as the place for young people to go for a whole range of activities, including support but also for education, training and a whole range of music, art and social and recreational activities. The YAC is a bit tired and run down. It needs a good reno and upgrade. Friends of the YAC will be able to select their level of involvement ranging from just receiving and passing on information through a whole range of practical, financial and other involvement. More details will be out soon so please look out for that and give some thought about if and how you might like to become a Friend of the YAC. Government cuts have hit us hard. How great will it be if the community just pulls together to get on with making sure our young people feel valued, happy and safe in their community?



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

www.bys.org.au  

 

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LATEST NEWS


Jo Jo will be accompanied by Mark Scown and probably other musicians. Lilly McAllister  
from the BYS Mullumbimby girls group will be doing a couple of songs in the break! 
      
    
 
BYS Carwash Fundraiser

Please call into the Caltex Service Station in Brunswick Heads on Thursday July 10th between 10am and 2pm and have your car washed and dried by our lovely young people.
Just $10 and all proceeds will help keep our BYS young women's and young men's groups happening. Big shout out to Trev and Angela for their support and the use of the service station.
 
 
 

Mullumbimby Youth Cottage

Great things and creative works taking place at the Mullumbimby Cottage. Sexual health sessions have provided great info and lots of laugh, the boys have got to work and cleared the front garden and the girls have started decorating, chocolate muffins have made by the boys and consumed along with the beautiful oranges donated by Andrew Hall from his orchard (many thanks Andrew), creative works are coming along beautifully and all groups are helping to organise our BYS carwash fundraiser. Additionally a couple of young people have made amazing and courageous life choices and I am so proud of them.
 


 

     

        
    
 
Workshops

BYT 2014
 Byron Youth Theatre
 
Byron Youth Theatre is celebrating!!
A wonderfully successful public performance of PASH: positive Adolescent Sexual Health  at the Drill Hall, a Local Government Arts & Cultural Award for their production of Mind Made Me which was part of a Mental health program delivered to schools last October and confirmation of a Nortec Community Grant to create a whole new production next year!! What a Winter Warmer!!

The feedback from the 47 community members attending the PASH performance at the Drill Hall on Saturday 7th June and engaging in the Q & A afterwards with the cast was insightful about the power that Youth theatre can have.  Many audience members were intrigued about the process BYT undertake to create their pieces and commended the young actors on their high level of skill and talent.  It was particularly pleasing to see so many people recommending our work go further afield to more schools and community events.
We are hoping to liaise with some professionals in the Department of Education, the PASH Consortium and local psychologists in the future enable us to share this valuable work in 2015.
Having secured a Country Arts Support Program grant from Regional Arts NSW last year, BYT will continue to develop their highly successful production which focuses on youth mental health issues called Mind Made Me.
Last year in October, BYT  were engaged in a series of Mental Health Days delivered to local schools including Yoga and Mindfulness program & Dealing with HSC stress for High achievers.  8 performances were given to Year 9 & 10 students with Company members assisting Director Lisa Apostolides in workshop activities afterwards.  This innovative program spearheaded by Phoebe Lines, Youth Development Officer from Byron Council was recognised at the Local Government Arts & Cultural Awards recently.  It is hoped that with another Mental Health month small grant that will be applied for, Mind Made Me will be back at local schools this October creating more awareness and understanding of prominent issues that affect so many people.
BYT are currently devising a whacky politically slanted Street Theatre piece which will showcase at Splendour in the Grass this July.  Made possible by a Youth Activities Grant from Byron Council and very much supported by Byron Youth Service, BYT are having fun creating the "Ballad of Phony Maggot".  They have recently been accepted in the Brisbane Fringe Festival and are waiting to hear from Mullum Music Festival as well as Woodford Folk Festival.  The piece has already been booked to perform at Cranfest next year too!!
Lisa Apostolides is currently looking to businesses to come on board to give an annual donation to BYT to support their valuable work.  " We are so grateful to Byron Youth Service for auspicing us which makes it possible for me to apply for as many grants as possible to keep us going.  Grants vary in amounts and with the smaller ones it is often hard to cover all our costs."
If you are interested in becoming a member of BYT, donating time, money, goods or expertise please contact Lisa at byronyouththeatre2481@gmail.com
and please go visit and like our facebook page : Byron Youth Theatre


   
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.

 
 

 

STEER logo

 

 

Outreach Program

STREET CRUISE
Trained youth workers supporting young people at risk on the streets every Friday night in Byron CBD. Please call Deb on 0409170062 if you need support or assistance.
  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
Lotte Boer                        Young Mum's & Suffolk Park Project