Youth determined to support their services

Story & photo Eve Jeffery 

In the face of federal funding cuts,  Byron Youth Service (BYS) staff and kids are rallying the troops, determined to raise funds to finance their lost services.

Last week’s effort raised over $1,000 when Jo Jo Smith appeared at a concert for the service, while the girls from the Mullumbimby Widow’s Cottage Girls Groups held a car wash in Brunswick Heads.

Community helps

BYS Youth Worker Deb Pearse says that it has been the help from community supporters and the kids themselves which has helped push things along.

‘We were just so grateful to have Jo Jo come and play at the YAC,’ said Deb. ‘She is so supportive of our youth and she spoke quite a bit about the subject during her show last Wednesday evening.

‘We also owe heartfelt thanks to Trev and Angela from the Caltex Brunswick Heads service station for letting us use their driveway and water, and Jesse Penhaligon from NR Mobile Car Detailing for his time and support.

Deb says the girls have been coming up with ideas for weeks on how they can keep the service going.

‘The girls are all from Mullumbimby High’, says Deb. ‘It was their idea, and the boys’, to raise money to keep the girls’ and boys’ groups going at the Widow’s Cottage after recent funding cuts.’

In the planning stages is a video to spearhead a crowdfunding effort to raise $50,000 later in the year.

‘We plan to do a short documentary on some of the kids who have used the service in the past’, says Deb.

For more information on the fundraising efforts of the BYS, phone Deb on 0409 170 062.