Media Release:

Help Bravehearts WA continue supporting those who need it the most

Bravehearts is a national charity which provides counselling to all kids in need and helps raise awareness in every state on how to keep our kids safe.

Just weeks ago the Western Australia branch of Bravehearts lost the support from their major benefactor and was nearly facing closure. The WA Branch of Bravehearts is located in Margaret River but services the entire state, so this would be absolutely devastating and leave many families without the support they need.

A passionate group of local people have come together to stand up and keep this charity alive... and they are on a mission to gather as much help as they can.

Bravehearts WA is a leading West Australian children's charity, who's hands on approach to helping children and their families, is making a real difference in our community. We have been operating from our Margaret River head office for five years now, and our recent evaluation, indicates the over whelming need for this charity to continue all its good work.

Over the last four years, Bravehearts WA has managed to fundraise over $150,000 to continue its dedication to freely available professional counselling and education to the local community. Our services include:

• A three day week counselling/pastoral service to children at Margaret River Primary School. This is the Bravehearts School Program and is an early intervention program aimed at kindergarten to Year Seven students.

It also focuses on students with low self esteem and poor social skills, so as they can interact successfully with their peers, be assertive and manage their own conflicts:

• One to one advocacy and support to survivors of child maltreatment in WA.
• Online and phone/online counselling services.
• Comprehensive no cost training to other services providers (Police, Education Dept and Child Health.)
• Library and resource services for children, parents and service providers.

Over the last few months, Bravehearts has undergone some financial and structural changes, which at one stage jeopardised the future of the charity. Fortunately a new enthusiastic board has been established, consisting of ten highly dedicated and passionate people, from all areas of business and community. It is the board's main intention to raise the profile of Bravehearts and endeavour to help this charity reach all children in need, across all corners of our state.

We need all the help we can get, in order to make this happen. Bravehearts is looking at embarking on a major fundraising program and are hoping to glean support from our own community in the Shire of Augusta/Margaret River as well as throughout the state.

If you have been a supporter in the past, we say a huge thank you and look forward to your continued support in the future. If you are new to the Bravehearts Charity, we welcome you and hope you will become a regular contributor to this vitally important charity.

The New Year will see us putting together some exciting ways for you to support this charity, including a Bravehearts Sponsorship Program, similar to World Vision Sponsorship.

In the meantime, if you would like to donate to Bravehearts WA, you can do so by emailing our Bravehearts WA coordinator, Mandi Nelson at mandinelson@bigpond.com OR you may wish to contact our Margaret River office on 08 9757 9999.

For more information on Bravehearts visit www.bravehearts.org.au.

We are excited about our new direction and look forward to your support.

Mum Zone Release Date: 6th January 2009

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