Weekly Highlights: Collaboration, Compassion and Community Care

Each week at Fletcher Street Cottage, we're dedicated to creating a safe, supportive space for our community's most vulnerable. From essential services and practical support to meaningful moments of connection, our team is here to make a difference.

Weekly Highlights

• Collaborative Conversations: We attended a Local Leaders Group Meeting to discuss strategies for supporting individuals out of homelessness in the Northern Rivers. We also joined the Red Cross for a disaster preparedness meeting, ensuring we're ready to support our community in times of need.
• Fundraising Success: Torsten Krause, Byron Markets stallholder, completed his incredible 10 Day Challenge, raising funds and awareness for Fletcher Street Cottage. We’re so grateful for his dedication and the community support this effort has inspired.
• Welcoming a New Student: We’re excited to welcome Sarah Davis, a Diploma of Counselling student, who has joined us to gain hands-on experience supporting our clients.
• Naloxone Training for Staff: Our team completed Naloxone training with Mary from NSW Health’s NSP Program, equipping us with vital skills for opioid overdose prevention and response.
• Small Wins, Big Smiles: A service user proudly shared that he started working at a local muesli business, a huge step forward in his journey to stability.
• Team Efforts in Action: Special thanks to Will Conley, our Daily Coordinator, who took on the Breakfast Coordinator role this week while also covering the welcome worker desk – all with a broken arm! A big shout-out to Amanda Peters for her extra support in making this week a success.
• Training to Improve Client Support: Christian from Social Futures led housing application training for our team, while Maddi Powell, Assistant Manager and Community Support Worker, attended the “Accidental Counsellor Workshop,” gaining valuable skills to support clients in difficult moments.
• New Faces and Client Achievements: This week, we welcomed seven new clients through our doors. One client shared their gratitude with a Community Support Worker, expressing, “I am so grateful for the essential support given to me. It was so important at the time, and now I feel stable enough to give back.” Another client received psychosocial support to plan and organise future steps for herself and her family, creating a hopeful path forward.
• Animal Care for Our Community: Friday brought our first visit from Emma from Ballina Vet Hospital. Her support meant the world to a client, who shared, “I can’t tell you how much stress having her look at my dog has relieved for me. I am so grateful.”

About Fletcher Street Cottage

Fletcher Street Cottage is a community services hub in the heart of Byron Bay, offering essential support for individuals facing homelessness, domestic violence, mental health challenges and financial hardship. Our services include nutritious meals, access to showers and laundry, advocacy, health services and more, all aimed at helping our clients move toward stability and self-sufficiency. With the support of our dedicated team, volunteers and generous community partners, we're working every day to make a positive impact.