“May I speak with you for a minute?” I reply “Of course let’s sit down and chat.” We pull up a couple of chairs, side by side allowing them space, not directly looking at them as they grapple with how to get out what’s brought them up to the front to speak with someone they didn’t know 60 minutes ago. “There’s two things I’d like to talk to you about if that’s ok?” I nod and the dam walls burst…..
Read MoreI heard the door swing open from the rear of the shop as I was helping in the Cafe, fast footsteps and an excited voice calls out “Tanya, Tanya, guess what? I got a B in Maths today, I never get B’s I only get D’s”. I look into the face of a smiling participant in our Arrowsmith program. “Wow, that’s so exciting to hear. All your hard work is paying off isn’t it?” and I’m answered with an exuberant nod. “It just makes sense to me now.”……..
Read More“It was hard at the beginning when I started becuase I got really frustrated. As time went on the clocks started to make more sense. It helped with my memory, it helped in maths and I started to do better at school with all my work…..”
Read MoreThe aroma of onions being caramelized and sizzling bacon fills the air, making our mouths water and tummies grumble admidst calls of “Don’t forget to grab the garlic”, “How hot does my pan need to be” and “Have you got any more knives?” bouncing around the newly restored Heritage listed art deco theatrette, now called The Upper Room. This is our very first Junior Master Cooking Class held to connect with our community, in the North Festival of Launceston in October. There’s far more to the story than young people learning to cook delicious….
Read MoreIn reality some of these young people have only met each other in the last few months, some a little longer but if you knew just a smidge of their life journeys and the struggles they have and do face on a daily basis, you’d be in awe, as am I, of the power of personal growth, coping techniques…..
Read MoreWe’re just as excited as the young people, not that holidays are nearly here, but for a very different reason, we’ve just received the results from their Achievement & Cognitive Assessments and this may be for the first time in some of these young people’s lives that they will get a report at the end of the year that shows significant improvement
Read MoreA beautiful sunny, slightly windy but warm late afternoon found us trundling an esky down the footpath to Riverbend Park to secure one of the well equipped BBQ shelters, battling the pesky seagulls intent on
Read MoreIt was a very warm and windy Saturday morning. Christmas songs, chattering, nervous giggles, bagpipes warming up, diesel engines starting up and calls to “find your place” swirl around the children, adults and vehicles as the Launceston Christmas Parade starts to come to life
Read MoreHuddling together, the parent shared their struggles right now and expressing their gratefulness for the support we’ve given their family. A few of the children were so sad they were crying. My heart broke at such heavy burdens for little lives…..
Read MoreThe front was covered in angry scribble, dark colours and vile names written all over it (which I won’t repeat) an expression of how they felt the world talked about them and saw them…..
Read MoreDid you know it’s more than just a thrift and costume store? We also mentor and train young people in retail here. They not only learn customer service, merchandising and registers but learn life skills too, like conflict resolution, working with different personalities, confidence building, personal boundaries, teamwork and time management…..
Read MoreSchool and social activities were always a struggle for me growing up. Since I started primary school instructions given by the teacher were hard to follow and I’d often get in trouble for not “listening” to the instruction. This affected me mentally…….
Read MoreThe NotEvenOnce seminar draws to a close, its Q&A time. Students are firing questions at me about Vaping. “If you suck on the vape but don’t inhale the vape, do you get the same effects?” I smile, as I remember a certain President state, he puffed on Marijuana but never……..
Read MoreThe concept of mentoring sounds amazing doesn’t it? It also can seem equally daunting and many people aren’t sure what they could possibly do to help someone else, let alone a young person. The good news is you absolutely do have a lot to offer…..
Read MoreThere was no better way to celebrate Christmas and the progress of our restoration work upstairs than with a telling of the true meaning behind Christmas, Jesus and the promise his birth was for all of us. "Shep", the Original Sheepdog (played by Tom) from the shephards at the time was our narrator and journeyed….
Read MoreToday Abby* celebrates her Bursary Award from a school in Tasmania with her family. “I could not have done this without you mum” she told her mum, Celine*. Not that long ago, Celine was on the verge of taking her own life…
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