For over 20 years the Byron Community & Cultural Centre has played a community development role in the region, establishing numerous community services which are then managed by other organisations. We work collaboratively with individuals and organisations to identify and respond to community needs.
Byron Bay Drop-in Centre
Information and referral
Emergency relief
Outreach services
Community directory
Byron Bay Community Market
Office services
Pregnancy support group
The Community Centre has a volunteer tax accountant to help low income earners with their tax returns. Tax Help will run from 4 August to October 2010. Before you make an appointment please download and read the following 1) What to Bring.Page 32, 2) Eligibility. If you are eligible and once you have prepared all the information then call 6685 6807 to make an appointment.
Appointments will be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.
The Byron Bay Drop-in Centre is a partnership between the Byron Community Cultural Centre and the Salvation Army. The Centre provides services and assistance in:
It offers a caring environment where the needy, lonely and disconnected of our community experience a sense of being valued and supported.
Drop In is run by Darren or Leanne Elsley from the Salvation Army and volunteers. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday between 10am and 1pm.
The Centre runs an information and referral desk for residents and visitors. We refer people to agencies in such areas as education, family support, drug and alcohol counselling, health, accommodation, youth, employment, legal aid, community services, family day care, financial counselling and victims of domestic violence. We hold resource material on a range of subjects and up to date information directories for the Lismore, Ballina and Byron Shires.
The Centre administers emergency relief, helping people in crisis with food vouchers, electricity accounts, telephone bills, and transport. We also refer people to other agencies and crisis accommodation. Emergency relief is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services. The Centre distributes bread to people in need on Tuesday mornings and provides a free breakfast from the Fletcher Street room every Wednesday morning.
The Centre is home to a number of outreach services including financial counselling, tax return assistance, and the Migrant Settlement Scheme.
We have started production of the new directory. Listings include family, education, sport, spiritual groups, health, environment, arts, Aboriginal groups, emergency accommodation, youth, women, men, government, support groups and many others. Over 1000 local organisations will be included when we finish and go to print, hopefully in the next few months.
The Centre has managed the Byron Bay Community Market since 1988. The market has grown substantially and now averages around 370 stalls. As it has expanded, so too has its reputation, and the monthly event is now a major tourist attraction. It employs a market coordinator, as well as 16 casual workers and musicians each market day.
Venue hirers and community groups can use community noticeboards located in Fletcher Street at the rear of the Centre and in the arcade from Jonson Street.
In 1983 the Centre established the pregnancy support group, which has held weekly meetings ever since. The group's aim is to help mothers make informed choices about the birthing process. Body work, pelvic work, yoga and belly dancing are used to help mothers explore the physical aspects of pregnancy, while an extensive library provides useful resources. Speakers and midwives occasionally address members of the group and referrals are provided to a range of practitioners.
The Centre participates with other community groups and welfare agencies in regular meetings to identify gaps in service delivery, identify ways of improving services and network.
New Community Service commencing Friday May 1st 2009.
Liberation Larder a food lifeline
The Liberation Larder project provides food parcels to all people in need every Friday and is open from 4.00PM until 6.30PM.
Byron Community & Cultural Centre - PO Box 309, 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 - (02) 6685 6807
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