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April E-News 
In this issue
Latest News
Fundraising
Courses, Programs & Activities
Outreach Program
Byron Youth Service Team

  

In March, the YAC turned 21! We had a little celebration during the March Byron Flea, with our Patron, Jan Barham, on-hand to cut the cake. A bigger celebration is in the plans, once refurbishments are complete and community will be welcomed to help us mark this important transition.
 
Reaching adulthood is a threshold moment, a time of moving from youthfulness to youthful adulthood. To help us mark this change, early on the morning of Saturday 19th, several BYS staff, management committee members, and members of the community gave up the opportunity for a sleep-in to help us in a YAC Revisioning workshop. The workshop was coordinated by the Financial Planning Association of Australia and facilitated by Paul Crane, a Financial Advisor and Business Coach. We discussed several aspects of the Youth Activity Centre, with focus on how to best promote this great space as a destination for young people and community to utilize it for events, conferences, education, entertainment and workshops. Several points were agreed on, including the need for fencing (which will happen soon), and for a new look. We now are on the look-out for funds, volunteers and donations to help us give the YAC a new paint job, to reflect its more mature status while maintaining its youth focus.
 
March was a busy time at the YAC. We launched our Barefoot Movies, which was a lovely evening but needs some tweaking to move it into high gear. We hope to have committed community members volunteer to take this project on and give it the wings to fly. I can't imagine a better space in the Shire to cuddle under the stars, have a lovely meal and watch a great movie, so let us know if you are keen to get involved, you will be most welcome!
 
This month also saw us start our Certificate II in Hospitality and Event Management, and we continued to provide space for Barista, Safer Driver courses, and Byron Community Campus.
 
Media gave us lots of attention this month as well, as you may have noticed photos in both the Echo and Byron Shire News from both the Byron and Mullumbimby arms of our service.
 
April will see us falling back in time with the time change to Standard, and we can anticipate colder days, longer nights, hibernating time. But the Byron Youth Service staff and committee of management will continue to work to bring services, programs, entertainment to the beloved youth of Byron Shire and to our community.


From all of us @ BYS 
 
Byron: 6685 7777
Mullum: 6684 3086
 
 

Latest News


The YAC 21st birthday was celebrated at the Byron Flea with Jan Barham cutting an incredible looking cake, with sun, music, food and lots of stalls.

Thanks to everyone that helped us celebrate!
Mullum Cottage

The boys' groups are enjoying doing physical activities with Rick and he is continuing to keep them all engaged. Truancy is a big issue at the school and participants of groups who are truanting are quite often held back from attending the group. Attending the Cottage, off school grounds, is viewed as a privilege which can be removed by the school for negative behaviour.

  





A new year 9 group is participating well and attendance so far has been really good.









All the girls' groups have completed D&A sessions with myself and Siobhan from Intra. Lots of good info and the 'drunk goggles' always lightens it up after serious discussion. The Echo also did a nice little piece on the sessions. The boys' groups will complete the same sessions after Easter.


A lot of what happens at the Cottage is serious but we have lots of fun as well. Learning to lighten up, look a bit silly and have fun with peer groups is just as important. As is learning about the importance of sunshine, exercise, relaxation and healthy eating!


As always it's good to have visits from young people who've moved on from their Cottage days. Sometimes it's just a visit and a chat and sometimes to get support and find resolution around issues that can seem insurmountable. This month has seen some great results and some innovative solutions.

   
 
BYS Hospitality/Events Management course @ the YAC

Smell the beans as they roast, taste the warm milk as it slips'n'slides down the throat. 
This is what has been experienced to-date, during the Hospo/Events Management course. 
Non-Alcoholic beverages is just one area in which our ten young people have been learning/practising and enjoying the skills they have learnt during the course. Safe food practices and RSA are also part of the course.
We're into our fourth week and going strong.

   

Byron Youth Service
Byron Community Campus

An increasing number of students are accessing the Byron Community Campus for support with their subjects studied through Southern Cross School Distance Education. We are fortunate to be able to access the space at the YAC and be exposed to the many opportunities provided by the Byron Youth Service. Students have been welcomed to participate in the various courses offered and this has lead to employment opportunities in the local area. Students range from Year 7 to Year 12, some completing their HSC this year. Patterns of study are monitored closely to ensure students stay on track to receive the credential they are aiming for. 

This program is funded by the NSW Department of Education, however the Byron Youth Activity Centre (YAC) offers the space for free. Connecting with BYS staff has been invaluable to the success of the students.
FUNDRAISING
Month Year
Bluesfest 2016

15 Amazing BYS volunteers ran 2 breathalyser & phone charging stalls at Bluesfest which was a huge success!
Thanks to our awesome volunteers for your hard work, dedication and commitment. 
Thank you also to all the patrons that supported our organisation! 





Bluesfest Busking Competition organisers & Three Blue Ducks presented us with a certificate for our dedication to the local Youth! Thank you.
 
BYRON FARMERS' MARKET
Every Thursday for the month of April, BYS volunteers will be shaking the bucket to raise money for BYS youth programs. 
Your generosity is appreciated immensely!

BYRON MARKET
In June BYS are appointed the Charity of the day in Butler Street!


BINGO NIGHTS
coming to the YAC!


Thank you!


Please let us know if you have any fundraising ideas BYS can be involved in!
Call Steffie on 6685 7777 or email stephanie@bys.org.au

Courses - Programs  - Activities 
 

NEXT BYRON FLEA MARKET - SATURDAY April 9th

Please call Lotte if you want to book a stall - 0490026840
  

Byron Youth Service

SAFER DRIVER'S COURSE FOR LEARNERS

 

The Safer Learner Driver Course is a combined theoretical and practical Course for under 25 year-old learner drivers who have completed 50 hours of log book driving hours. The Course involves two Modules:

  • Module one: A three-hour facilitated group discussion on how to manage risks on the road. This will involve a maximum of twelve participants and will be delivered by a facilitator.
  • Module two: A two-hour in-vehicle coaching session to develop low-risk driving strategies. This will involve two participants and a coach.

Participants who complete the course will receive a bonus of 20 hours credit recorded in their learner driver log book.

 

COURSE NOTES:

  • BYS is an RMS authorised Course Provider
  • The Course costs a total of $140 for both modules.
  • Participants may enjoy completing the Course with a friend particularly for the in-vehicle session. 
  • For more information please contact:
Steffie on 6685 7777 or email info@bys.org.au
or book directly  www.bys.org.au

Next Module 1 Course:

Wednesday 6th of April - 4.30pm to 7.30pm
Wednesday 13th of April -  10.30am to 1.30pm 
BARISTA COURSE
Coffee image

Tuesday 19th April
 4 to 7pm
$50
 Ages 15 to 24
Byron Youth Activity Centre
1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay
To book a place call Steffie on 6685 7777

Thank you to Byron Bay Coffee Co for donating coffee for our courses!


BYT logo
BYRON YOUTH THEATRE

Byron Youth Theatre are just completing their research, interviewing and surveying for the 
upcoming production No One Way which explores issues faced by LGBTIAQ+ youth.  Many thanks to the 78 people who completed our online survey and to all those wonderful people we have been interviewing.  Next we will move into development through improvisation of scenes.  This production is due to go to schools and a public performance offered in May that has been funded by Country Arts Support Program, Regional Arts NSW. 
We are pleased to welcome two new members to our Company, Rainer and Marco, who have jumped straight into our new production!
Here's a photo of most of the Company after one of our rehearsals
If you want to find out more about BYT please call Lisa on 0403023693

Outreach Program

STREET CRUISE
   

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

   

THANK YOU TO OUR AWESOME SPONSORS!!!!

BYRON CAPTURED WATER

EARTH N SEA PIZZA

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 2015

Kristie Clifton                           Chairperson
Michael Goldberg                         Secretary
Ian Leggo                                   Treasurer
 Mark Smith                                   Member 
Alex Croall                                   Member
Stephen Marriott                            Member
Rainor Congdon            Youth Representative
Stephanie Sims             Staff Representative
Teeya Blatt                                   Manager
   

Byron Youth Service Workers

Teeya Blatt                                                      Manager
Deb Pearse                               Mullum Youth Coordinator
 Rosalie Bryant                           Byron - Youth Coordinator  
Stephanie Sims                                       YAC Coordinator 
Lotte Boer                                      Byron Flea Coordinator
Chad Kolcze                                    Hospitality Coordinator
Jonathan Edwards                                              Accounts
David Dalton                                               Street Cruise
     
Community Project Workers 

Steve & Liz                                  Byron Community Campus
Chad Kolcze                                             The Uncle Project
Morag Roseby                                          The Uncle Project
 Lisa Apostolides                      BYT Youth Theatre Co-ordinator
Nicqui Yazdi                                  BUDDI CDAT Co-ordinator