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23rd – 27th March 2026
This week at Fletcher Street Cottage we saw housing progress, reflected on the growing need for women’s support and celebrated the incredible contribution of our volunteers and partners. Here’s a snapshot of what happened.
Highlights
- A woman fleeing domestic and family violence shared her gratitude this week after receiving financial assistance from Fletcher Street Cottage as she prepares to move into a private rental next week. She shared: “It's been many highs and lows, thanks to Fletcher Street Cottage for your support, it’s been an important part of my journey.” Moments like this remind us how important early support and emergency assistance can be in helping women move toward safety and stability.
- In 2026 alone, Fletcher Street Cottage has already supported over 350 women through our services. This number highlights both the impact of our Women’s Space and Women’s Clinic and the growing need for dedicated support for women in our community.
- One participant shared this feedback about Fletcher Street Cottage: “For years now, I have seen Fletcher Street Cottage do an amazing job supporting so many people. But I have figured out why it is so amazing. It is because of their staff's attitude that the magic happens here. It’s not just about the good order of the cottage. It's about intervening and having a good impact on people's lives.”
- Volunteers continue to be the backbone of Fletcher Street Cottage. This year alone, volunteers have contributed 252 hours to breakfast service and 156 hours to laundry, along with many other tasks that help the service run each day. We are incredibly grateful for our community of more than 125 active volunteers who make this work possible.
- Damian and Shanti attended a meeting with the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, led by Kiri Dicker, to discuss program development, impact measurement and future opportunities for Fletcher Street Cottage to strengthen and expand our work in the community.
- Luke from The Winsome & Lismore Soup Kitchen visited Fletcher Street Cottage to learn more about our services and explore opportunities for collaboration, as some participants access both services. The Winsome provides daily hot lunches and transitional housing, and partnerships like this help create stronger regional support networks for people experiencing hardship.
- The team from Ticket Satisfies (see photo) local Byron brand dropped by to donate clothing plus takings from their Easter sales.
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.
