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Do you live in the Coffs Harbour area? Are you under 25 years old? Are you same-sex attracted or curious? If so, then Be Young and Proud (BYP) might be for you.
BYP is run by Harbour Youth Service in Coffs Harbour, and involves drop-in sessions where young same-sex attracted people can meet and socialise in a safe environment.

The Harbour Youth Service, with ACON’s assistance, will also run BYP group workshops over a six-week period, covering topics such as coming out, communication, discrimination, sexuality and sexual health. To attend the drop-in sessions or register for one of the workshops, contact the Harbour Youth Service on 02 6648 3620 or ACON on 02 6651 6017.

Another exciting thing happening in the area is the Northern Rivers retreat for gay men living with HIV. Celebrating their 18th year, the retreats offer a safe, healthy and fun environment for gay guys living with HIV to chill out, make new friends, discuss issues that impact on their lived experience of HIV, and if interested, take part in workshops such as creative arts or exercise programs, or get back to nature with bushwalking and canoeing.

Places are available for people from the Mid North Coast. The retreat will be held May 6 – 10 in the Tweed River hinterland. The retreat is hugely popular and spots are limited, so book early. Contact Neil at ACON on 02 6622 1555 to register or for more information.

The Mid North Coast HIV Community Support Fund is looking for expressions of interest from community groups that assist the HIV positive community on the Mid North Coast. One-off grants of $500 are available. For more information, contact Glenn Ferrero on 02 6584 0943.

info: For more about groups, services, organisations or community events on the Mid North Coast, contact Anabell at ACON Coffs Harbour on 02 6651 6017 or email [email protected] or Glenn at ACON Port Macquarie on 02 6584 0943 or email [email protected]

Anabell Thoener is the Health Promotion Outreach Officer at ACON’s Coffs Harbour Outreach Office.