Free2b Girls was born in the regional town of St Helens on the East Coast of Tasmania in 2017...

It began by two women recognising a need in their community for a place where girls can come to that's independent of school, home or sporting clubs where they can "just relax and be themselves in for a while..' (St Helens Free2b participant.). 

In collaboration with the St Helens Neighbourhood House, the women sorted out a weekly venue, found a budget for some food, and gathered a few craft materials.

They decided to call the group "Free2 Be" and advertised it in the school newsletter as a: 

"space for girls aged between 10 and 15 where they can feel free to hang out and express their naturally creative selves through music, dance, art craft and cooking, The space will run in a way that encourages freedom within the boundaries of safety and respect" 

The first week the doors were opened, 2 or 3 girls came along. Within a month there were around 8 and since that first week, there have been up to 15 girls regularly attending each week.

Over time, the broader community of St Helens became involved with supporting the group both financially and in kind - offering work experience, skills sharing, fundraising ideas, workshops...and simply valuing the opportunity to engage with the vibrant and dynamic qualities girls in this age group share.

In 2019, in response to other communities asking:  "Why do girls keep coming along? What do you do each week that's so special?Can we have something like this too?" Tani Langoulant decided to found 'Free2b Girls' and develop a program that could be shared with other regional areas through out Tasmania.

Drawing on her lived experience running the St Helens Free2b group, along with a back ground in Social Ecology (BA  Sus Dev)  and Counselling (Dip Couns), Tani wrote an 80 page training manual, developed policies, guidelines and procedures, created a funding model under Local Councils and Neighbourhood Houses........ and has watched Free2b Girls grow ever since!