Creative Christmas, Art Support and Resilience Stories

16 - 19 December 2025

This week at Fletcher Street Cottage we have been celebrating community, sharing stories of resilience and getting ready for Christmas with creativity and connection. Here is a snapshot of what has been happening.

Highlights

• This week, Shewna and Trish from Bunnings visited Women’s Space, donating arts and crafts supplies and spending time with participants and staff. Their visit offered a meaningful glimpse into the positive impact Women’s Space has on the women who attend.
• Resilience story: A male participant who had initially been hesitant to reconnect with vital support services changed his mind after a positive interaction with one of our volunteers. He chose to re-engage and take proactive steps forward. This reflects the healing power of community, and how genuine human connection can influence lives in lasting ways.
• We welcomed Maysoun, our new placement student from Morocco, who is completing her Diploma in Community Services. She is trilingual, speaking Arabic, French and English, and we are delighted to have her as part of the team.
• Impact story: A man experiencing homelessness shared his gratitude for Fletcher Street Cottage, explaining that our support helped him organise overdue fines, reduce stress and regain a sense of control. Access to showers, food and support workers offered him space to reset and face challenges from a new perspective.
• Our team came together for our annual Christmas Tropical Party at Byron Community Centre, a joyful event filled with laughter, music and dancing. Volunteers and staff enjoyed wonderful food and live music from Justification, celebrating the year and the amazing contribution of our whole community.
• A retired couple referred by a friend arrived anxious after four weeks without payments from Services Australia. Through our partnership with Services Australia, we were able to coordinate the reinstatement of their payments, easing significant financial stress.
• Our creative team has been busy making a handcrafted Christmas tree from scratch, which will take pride of place in our celebrations next week.

About Fletcher Street Cottage

Fletcher Street Cottage is a community hub in the heart of Byron Bay, providing essential support for people experiencing hardship. Our services include nutritious meals, access to showers and laundry, advocacy, health and wellbeing programs, and creative initiatives like Women’s Space, all designed to help people move toward stability and self sufficiency. With the support of our volunteers, partners and donors, we continue to make a difference every day.