Many young people in regional Australia experience higher levels of social and educational disengagement than in urban areas, due to factors associated with geographical isolation, low-socio-economic circumstances and challenging personal/ family situations. (Tasmania Youth at Risk Strategy 2017).   

​In regional areas keeping inspired as a young person can be challenging.

"I'm bored. this place is a hole, there's nothing to do... " are common responses we receive when we visit rural communities and ask girls what life is like.

Your support for a Free2b Girls group will help enable a process of creation for some girls who may never otherwise get the chance to plant ideas and watch them grow. Even if it's just half an idea that ends up happening or if it doesn't quite happen the way it was envisioned it's still the beginning of an important process of realising that things can happen!

St Helens Free2b Group

Our oldest Free2b Group in St Helens, has received support from various sources over the past 2 yrs including High Ways and Byways, the  St Marys/St Helens Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank and the BOD council.

This support helps the girls achieve and expand upon an amazing list of things they dream of doing...

So far, the St Helens group has been to Nature World, participated in  a Tye Dye workshop, done yoga, held a High Tea event with the elderly residents from Medea Park, been to SWIMS cafe in Scamander and learnt how to make coffees, had fish and chips on the local foreshore and held a market stall selling their arts and crafts creations,

Their list of ideas is constantly growing and changing as the girls grow and change and they never seem to get used to the idea that there are members of the community supporting them.

It always comes as a surprise when there is money for them to do things, and they are extremely grateful and careful about how the money received is spent.
Longford Free2b Group

Northern Midlands Council run the Longford Free2b Girls and are always assisting and supporting the girls (aged 10 -12) with the projects they come up with.

Trees have been approved by council for yarn bombing, Council's provided venues for art exhibitions, helped gather sponsorship from the Commonwealth Bank and Rotary Club and are always advocating for the local community to step up and engage with the vibrancy created by the Longford girls.

Ongoing funding will be needed over the next few years to enable the group to keep growing and adapting to the ever changing needs of the girls as they enter high school. The group dynamic will be changing into bean bag land, after school hot chocolates in the local cafe and a need to go on a few adventures and excursions into the wider world. 
Beaconsfield Free2b Group

After only 4 months of running, the Beaconsfield Free2b girls are already turning their ideas into reality. They've been sewing up cloth bags to make emergency packs for girls - with all the essentials like lip balms, deodorant, bandaids and happy notes. 

The Beaconsfield Neighbourhood House is fully supportive of assisting the group with their visions and the facilitators are keen to start connecting in with the broader community, especially as the girls enter high school next year.

Trips to Launceston, cafe visits, engagement with artists and local businesses are all part of the bigger picture and with up to 18 girls in this group, they'd love more volunteers, a bit of extra funding and, like all Free2b groups, a bus to cart girls everywhere!
St Marys Free2b Group

Beach one week, rural valley the next...St Mary's Free2b girls travel 20 mins on the school bus to get to their different venues each week. 
 
Getting home is a bit different, and thanks to dedicated facilitators and parents, they all arrive back safely. A Free2b Bus is part of their dreaming - not just for transport home, but to get outta town more regularly, just for a change of scene.

The recent Trivia Night fundraising event honed in the girls sushi making skills and kick started their abilities to raise money for themselves....a good feeling and a great way to know there's a caring community out there.

Being quite a new group, with the widest range of age groups, new volunteers are always welcome to help guide and engage with the different dynamics that occur in this growing family!

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