Where There’s A Will
We are also known as Willo and we have a clear purpose. To inspire authentic connections for all people who live with intellectual challenges to their community.
People with intellectual challenges, or more commonly known now as neurodiverse, constitute a group at very high risk of exclusion at a community level. They are often denied opportunities to fully participate in the activities of their communities because they are seen as not able: they are seen as disabled.
Willo inspires communities to connect with disability and turn their fear and ignorance into acceptance and understanding. Willo uses a very unique and successful process of inspiring artists throughout the world to paint cricket bats that have been refurbished by community groups and, people living with intellectual challenges.
These communities are united through cricket and art and conversations that revolve around inclusion.
The cricket bat exhibitions create an opportunity to connect with all those people who have lived in isolation to their community and have been excluded simply because they are behave differently. This has the potential to change individual behaviours and perceptions of inclusion at all levels in the community.
100% of 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.
Willo communities work towards our purpose of building sustainable relationships and forging lasting change in the way all people are seen, accepted and included.
Importantly to stop the belief it is ok to isolate and exclude people in communities that are deemed different and lacking in ability. Willo believes that if we can change the behaviour of individuals then we can change the behaviour of communities.
Where There’s a Will … there is always a way.
Ange Clarke CEO & Founder
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 now working across Australia to unite communities and raise more awareness around intellectual disabilities and inclusion.
The Willo Community is a collection of artists within a community who want to support the cause. Each artist is given a bat refurbished by Willo and his team. They have the option to paint or create some artwork and the bat is put into an Exhibition conducted in the community.
There is an organiser who we liaise with and they are the contact point to communicate and help organise the exhibition. 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.
We have a drop off station at the International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral, and bats can also be picked up anywhere throughout Australia.
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.
The Last Over
Due to the overwhelming response from cricket clubs throughout Australia to the A Current Affair story in January 2021, Willo will be encouraging clubs to adopt The Last Over. The concept of the Last Over began in 2013 with Will playing cricket in a way that suited his abilities and opened the way to a lifelong love and participation of the game.
An additional over was added to the end of the game every Saturday in the cricket season and both teams and spectators came onto the field to play together with Will. He bowled or batted and participated in a way that suited his abilities which were accepted, understood and celebrated by the club and players. It opened the minds of the players about their perception of intellectual disability which inevitably, changed their behaviour towards Will.
The Last Over is an opportunity for every cricket club throughout Australia to include players who would not get to play consistently during the annual cricket season. It is a starting point for inclusion and importantly, for relationships to form. The Last Over offers a platform for connection and mateship.
With more than 3,778 cricket clubs across Australia, The Last Over would seamlessly offer a very simple and accessible pathway for inclusion and connection. If every club in Australia found just one Will Clarke in their community, there would be 3,778 more Australians living with intellectual disabilities participating and playing regularly and feeling connected, feel a sense of belonging and ultimately find a place of authentic inclusion.
It would also offer approximately 450,000 players across Australia a way to build a relationship with all the Wills in their community.
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...
Robertson Community Garden
The Robertson Community Garden project was first tabled as...
The Australian Navy takes Willo to the Middle East
We met Commodore Chris Smallhorn and his wife Kerina from...
Very humbled to be invited to be Australia Day Ambassadors for 2022.
We are heading to the NSW Riverina to the town of Lockhart and can’t wait to share in their community celebrations.
Thank you to the National Australia Day Council for the acknowledgement and invitation.
#australiaday #inclusion #ambassador #australiabatsforwill #whatsuplife #australia #rmwilliams #graziher
As the Founder of Where There’s a Will, I am reassured consistently, that we have a firm place in creating long term cultural change in our country.
Our cricket bats have become known around the world as symbols of inclusion.
The funds we have raised have created outcomes. Our discussions have confirmed that within the disability sector, efforts tend to focus on trying to empower those who are marginalised through cultivating their confidence and capacity, but not so much on strengthening the capacity of our communities.
And that’s what Willo does. We are strengthening our communities for the long term.
I am confident that we have proven ourselves and our validity. After working many years to build our base from a small business for Will to now a credible, purposeful and admired Charity, my vision for 2022 is for the Charity to be able to employ me to work full time, to build, enhance and deliver our strategic, financial and communication plans.
We are looking forward to working with our 2022 communities, building the legacies of our 2021 communities and having more opportunities to speak about inclusive community living for all people.
We’ve just been advised that due to some COVID concerns our filming tomorrow has been postponed 😔
We will keep you posted when it’s back on.
@wcgbackyardcricket @sunriseon7 @heyfieldbatsforwill @robertsonburrawangcc @woodsmithmagazine
Tomorrow morning at 8:15 our Will is on @sunriseon7 with @wcgbackyardcricket bowling #thelastover
Tune in 💚
The Last Over is an opportunity for every cricket club throughout Australia to include players who would not get to play consistently during the annual cricket season. It is a starting point for inclusion and importantly, for relationships to form. The Last Over offers a platform for connection and mateship for all players who live with neurodiversity.
@benquilty @simonbouda @gg_australia @robertsonburrawangcc #australiabatsforwill @robertson_pub @swfaustralia @harleymedcalf
Cheers to the new year 💚
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
