Where There’s A Will
WE SEE A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED EQUALLY
Our Mission
To use the strength of our cricket bat art exhibitions to empower and unite communities to get to know, learn from and embrace all people who live with intellectual disabilities that helps reduce exclusion and isolation.
Our Work
Where There’s A Will combines art, cricket bats and exhibitions to bring communities and community organisations together in a unique and positive way.
Where There’s a Will inspires and educates community leaders and residents through awareness and understanding and offers a way to respond with improved choice and opportunties. The key strategy is to establish the pathway that creates a relationship for the person living with an intellectual disability to their community where they authentically feel included.
In 2022, Where There’s a Will is collaborating with major Australia wide community organisations including the Australian Men’s Shed Association, that have an interest in supporting people living with intellectual disabilities and improving services within communities.
Funds raised from the exhibitions are driven back into the community to create community owned, community driven and community managed services, places and programs for “all abilities” in the community.
Ange Clarke Founder
Rainbow Innovation Centre Inc
SUPPORTING ALL ABILITIES
The Rainbow Innovation Centre is located in Rainbow, Victoria. Its a not for profit organisation established with funds from the sale of cricket bats through Where There’s a Will. The Centre offers creative programs in a safe and inclusive space, community connection and, learning and development opportunities primarily for people who may feel excluded and/or isolated.
Inclusivity is achieved within the community of Rainbow as more opportunities are created. Those who used to feel excluded or isolated have become more confident through inclusion in the group and the broader community.
The Centre is supported by Woodbine Inc and is now open to communities in the broader shire of Hindmarsh.
Men’s Sheds Bat for Will
STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION
The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) and Where There’s a Will (Willo) have come together to increase awareness and inclusion for people with disabilities across the Men’s Shed community.
What’s involved?
There are a few ways you can be involved in the project, with the most simple being to transform a cricket bat into a piece of art to submit for the Men’s Sheds Bat for Will Exhibition (to be held in early 2023). You can read the Men’s Shed Bat for Will FAQs for more information.
Fill out the Expression of Interest Form so we can keep in touch with information about the project and exhibition: https://mensshed.org/news-events/mens-sheds-bat-for-will-expression-of-interest/
Our Patrons
We have had the pleasure of meeting Will and the team.
Will’s passion and enthusiasm are infectious and what Where There’s a Will has accomplished is highly impressive. From a simple idea – teaching Will skills through refurbished cricket bats – to a growing community across Australia, Where There’s a Will is having a big impact.
They are creating awareness about the ability in disability and encouraging communities to come together to integrate and support those with a disability. It is an uplifting and inspiring journey and Linda and I are delighted to be part of it.
We look forward to supporting the team as joint Patrons and encourage all Australians to join us”.
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency, Mrs Hurley.
A Current Affair
“The Last Over” 5th December 2021
Paive io
“People Inspiring People” October 2019
How to be a Willo Artist
Creating a piece of artwork on a cricket bat is open to anyone who would like to work with Willo. There are no rules or restrictions and the bat will be supplied by Willo ready to paint.
You don’t need to be an artist… you simply need to want to be involved and have an interest in making a difference.
You may know someone who would love to paint, either way let us know and we will send you a bat meticulously refurbished by our team throughout Australia.
Please contact us to register your interest.
How to be a Willo Community
Willo is empowering and uniting communities through art, ability and inclusion.
The Willo Community is currently a collection of over 800 artists, community groups and individuals supporting and responding to creting places of belonging and comnection. To become a Willo community you simply need to want to be a more inclusive place to live.
If you would like to be a Willo community please contact us.
How to send us your bats
We source the second hand bats from schools, cricket clubs, privately and through communities.
Any old bats will be welcomed and bats that have been left in sheds and unused or potentially to be thrown out will be recycled and given a beautiful new purpose and home.
If you would like to send us a bat directly please contact us.
WILLO MOMENTS
Ben Will & Steve
A few weeks ago we were contacted by Harley, manager to...
A Man of Influence
On the 18th January 2021 Will was listed in the 20 Most...
Inclusion
When our story went to air on the 5th December this year...
Simon Bouda and ACA
We have been sharing Wills Last Over at cricket on...
The Australian Navy takes Willo to the Middle East
We met Commodore Chris Smallhorn and his wife Kerina from...
Willo goes to London House
Our amazing exhibition, Warooka Bats for Will, brought...
A Willo cricket bat by @gazcrooksculpture
Gary inspired us to all get a little creative.
@australianmensshedassociation
📢 Calling all Men’s Sheds creatives 👨🎨
We're teaming up with the @australianmensshedassociation to increase awareness and inclusion for people with disabilities by curating an Australian-first Men's Shed art exhibition.
We hope to inspire over 1200 sheds to transform a cricket bat into a piece of art 🏏 and build some great new relationships.
Interested? Read more and encourage your local shed to register an expression of interest so we can keep you up to date.
Visit www.mensshed.org/mens-sheds-bat-for-will-standing-shoulder-to-shoulder-to-promote-social-inclusion
#mensshedsbatforwill
#australiabatsforwill
There are men’s sheds across rural Australian communities building incredibly impactful relationships with men living with intellectual disabilities.
AMSA prioritises the wellbeing of all men valuing the role that men’s sheds play in the prevention of social isolation by providing a safe, friendly and welcoming place for men to work on meaningful projects and to contribute to the wider community.
The increasing inclusion of men with intellectual disabilities has changed perceptions, creating so much more understanding and ultimately building new pathways to social inclusion and employment that were previously non existent in many communities.
Thank you for this picture from the Willo’s Mens Shed in Willaston SA.
#australiabatsforwill #mensshedsbatforwill @gg_australia @australianmensshedassociation @rainbowinnovationcentre @benquilty
In 2019 after spending nine months with the community of Rainbow in Victoria, we curated our 8th cricket bat exhibition which included 90 artists.
These artists who now number over 800, were also truck drivers, welders, farmers, teachers, business owners, gallery owners, mums and dads and students.
They came together to talk about inclusive communities, gain greater awareness and understanding around people who live with disability and diversity, and through the sale of their artworks, raise funds.
Not only did this small community create one of our most successful creative and financial exhibitions, they also used their funds to build the Rainbow Innovation Centre;supporting all abilities
A place that uses art, craft and gardening to connect all people who have felt excluded and isolated because of their differences and, bring the community together to build new sustainable and authentic friendships.
People often ask what’s with the cricket bats ?
We arrived back last week after 2 years to assist with their strategic planning day, create some art and share stories.
Stories that would inspire the leaders of this country to see and know that inclusive communities are stronger and so much more empowered when we include and see everyone.
Thankyou Bernie from Woodbine Incorporated for your support and guidance and Belinda @rainbowinnovationcentre for your commitment to inclusion.
The Queens Jubilee Ball
Government House Canberra
With our Patrons, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Hurley, and Willo Chairman, Paul Hannigan
An incredibly special evening
@rainbowinnovationcentre @heyfieldbatsforwill
Where There’s A Will Ltd
ABN 14 634 182 497
Registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
44 May Street
Robertson NSW 2578
P: +61 2 427 110 968
E: hello@wheretheresawill.org.au
