Free2b Girls

The first Free2b Girls group was founded in 2017 in St Helens on the East Coast of Tasmania. Today, there are groups running across the island’s North East, all of which are run and supported by their local community. 

Tani Langoulant started the program after moving to St Helens and seeing the great need for young women in the community to have a safe place, outside of home and school, where they can connect in and find support on a weekly basis. The intention of the group is to create a space for girls where they can feel a sense of place, a degree of ownership of a space, and where they can exercise their freedom, choice and creativity within the boundaries of safety, tolerance and respect. Our group sessions are free for participants aged 10-16, and run after school typically between 3:00pm - 4:30pm in a community venue.

Beaconsfield

Day: Thursday 3-4.30pm

Longford

Day: Tuesday 3-4.30pm

Campbell Town

Day: Wednesday 3-4.15pm

Start a Free2b Group in your community 〰️ Enquire today 〰️

Join our Groups!

Other offerings

  • Our latest initiative, developed in response to community needs, creates opportunities for girls' groups in their community spaces through tailored groups, excursions and camps.

    Aimed at small groups of 14-16-year-olds, adaptable to each community's unique needs.

  • Individual /small group consultation and mentoring with young people age 18-25 . Support to find out what they need to ‘fly’ into adulthood. Connections to local community services. Pilot project funded by Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal in partnership with Highways and Byways.

  • Our brand new program which was created in need with the community. A desire to create space for girls 8-12 years old to learn through freedom and creativity with age appropriate discussions.

  • Our 1:1 Support Program provides personalized guidance for individuals who may need additional support beyond group activities. Identified by their facilitator, participants receive tailored mentorship to build confidence, develop essential life skills, and navigate challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

  • We work with communities to develop programs that help to address needs faced by girls in the community. Reach out to our team to discuss how we can assist.

Want Free2b in your community?

Join our Community Info Sessions

One of the biggest learning from the last 9 years of operation, has been realising that a Free2b Girls Group ability to thrive, depends on the capacity and intent within communities to support it. A weekly Free2b Girls Group is not possible without community engagement, passionate people and local investment behind it - the last thing we want is to create something girls love and then have it crumble because the scaffolding wasn’t in place!

Which is why we run our Community Information Sessions - to ensure foundational understandings are set prior to starting a girls group.

In these 1 hour online sessions we answer our 3 most commonly asked questions:

Why Girls? Why Rural? Why Free2b Groups?

Drawing upon our experience of running girls groups and sharing the most current research about rurality, gender and creativity we share:

  • why some girls need ‘girl only’ spaces, especially in rural areas and during their teenage years

  • why confidence, creativity and connection between girls and their community is vital.

  • why a Free2b Girls Group can benefit the whole community

    The best first step to take if you are a parent, young person organisational leader or community member interested in starting up a Free2b Girls Group is to join our next FREE Community Information Session so we can begin collaboratively taking the next step to making one happen! Just send us an email - free2bgirls@gmail.com saying ‘Interested in the Community Session’ and we’ll let you know the time and date and send you a link to join.

I love Free2b because it allows the girls to access parts of themselves they can’t or aren’t allowed to express or experience at school '

(Janet, parent)

Banjos Longford & Campbell Town

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City of Launceston

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Northern Midlands Council

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Neighbourhood House Beaconsfield

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FRRR

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Rotary Club of Longford

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Thrive Women's Grants

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Highways & Byways

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Healthy Tas

Banjos Longford & Campbell Town ~ City of Launceston ~ Northern Midlands Council ~ Neighbourhood House Beaconsfield ~ FRRR ~ Rotary Club of Longford ~ Thrive Women's Grants ~ Highways & Byways ~ Healthy Tas

Free2b Girls has been continually wrapped in both local and wider community support from the beginning.

Free2b Girls Groups often receive support from within their local community. This can come in the form of bakery donations, gift vouchers from local supermarkets and craft supplies from local opshops. All help is greatly appreciated and helps build a sense of value and community belonging for the girls who come to our groups. If your business would like to support any of our groups we would love to hear from you.