Bay Islands Community Services Inc

YOUTH GROUP: A youth group has been formed on Russell Island. Parents are encouraged to attend the group activities and event which are arranged throughout the year. MENS SHED: The Mens Shed was established to improve the health and wellbeing of men in their isolated island community. This is being achieved by encouraging men to reengage with the community through carrying out worthwhile and fulfilling projects. They are aiming to engage guest speakers and health professionals, to run educational workshops in an attempt to encourage the members to become involved in preventative medicine and regular health checks. They also aim to mentor younger men (the islands have 15% unemployment) to assist them to find work through the contacts and wisdom of the elders, and in some cases through social enterprise sponsored by the group, as an example, rebuild a ute and set a bloke up in a lawn mowing business. OP SHOP: The organisation operates two (2) Op Shops one each on Russell and Macleay Islands. This is an unique service for the organisations within our Network and it is a very important service for Bay Islands. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: A percentage of the profit from the Op Shops is used to provide emergency assistance to the residents of the islands. Assistance is in the form of , but not limited to, paying medical/pharmaceutical bills, food parcels, ferry travel cards to get to mainland. CHILDREN S ACTIVITIES: They conduct easter egg hunt and Christmas function for the children on the island.