Where There’s A Will
We are also known as Willo and we have a clear purpose. To inspire and influence inclusion for people who live with intellectual challenges …. through connection.
People with intellectual challenges 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 artists and community members to paint cricket bats that have been refurbished by people living with intellectual challenges. These communities are brought together through cricket and art, realised through cricket bat art exhibitions.
The exhibitions create an opportunity to connect which has the potential to change individual behaviours and perceptions of inclusion at all levels in the community.
100% of funds raised from the exhibitions create community owned, community driven and community managed services for “all abilities” in the community. A place for people to feel they truly belong and a place they feel they can connect, learn and be supported by and with their community.
Willo has lived just this experience for 24 years and we understand that belongingness; our connection to our friends and our community, is a fundamental human emotional need.
Willo believes we can inspire and influence inclusive behaviour towards those with intellectual challenges, through connection, one person at a time. 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.
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
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...
Willo goes to London House
Our amazing exhibition, Warooka Bats for Will, brought...
Australia All over .. thanks for having us.
@sunspurstudio @randyresin @stephballphoto @soul.stories @belindaeckermann @allirajane John Kennis @australianmensshedassociation @mahsahfarr ….. thanks for zooming in.
@augusteblackman1 @max_horst_sokolowski Chugg Fuller and The Antony Liberale School in Cividale de Friuli Italy #cividaledelfriuli .. thanks for allowing me to share your beautiful bats.
We had a great morning sharing Willo and The Last Over … thanks Macca and Lee @abcradionational @abcaudio
I feel I and our family have spent most of our parenting life advocating for our son. Asking for him to be included, advocating for more choice, creating opportunities for people to see his abilities and hoping he will be seen and understood.
Common to all autistic people are challenges in social communication and interaction and adjusting to their physical environment. Some have no voice to explain their feelings and situations they are confronted with. Many have behaviours that most would find challenging and then there are the socially awkward moments. They are different and do things in their time.
Many can’t read the signs, responding inappropriately is common and then there's extreme levels of anxiety and confusion in situations where they cannot moderate their feelings or senses. Sometimes they misread people’s intentions – difficulty with interpreting facial expressions is a hallmark of autism.
Many just act on their feelings with no understanding of the consequences in that moment. That can have shocking outcomes.
My son cares deeply about people. He hugs his family all the time, loves the company of friends and enjoys being part of groups. He also makes mistakes and can be very inappropriate and we as a family must respond to those moments for all concerned.
I am hoping that for the sake of their care and safety and the wellbeing of our communities we take the time to learn and understand how to support and respond. There are many situations that can be avoided if we respond rather than react.
Today our very talented respected and patient landscape architect James and the Founder of @willo_cricket_bats submitted their concept plan for our Willo inspired community garden. Resounding success. !!
It’s a plan that’s starting small.
A design that supports all abilities all ages and all community.
The purpose is to create a place of belonging, a place that encourages new friendships, teaches new skills and supports greater understanding of the diversity that lives within our community.
For our Autism families .. Autism presents differently in every person. No two autistic people experience autism in the same way. But common to all autistic people will be challenges in social communication and interaction and adjusting to their physical environment.
Life will be better for autistic people if more people in the community understand how autism affects people. Our garden aims to support this.
We’d love to connect with all gardens where there is a focus on disability access and inclusion.
#community #inclusion #disability #iknowwill @willo_cricket_bats
@amazeautism is a website and service shaping the way for Autism.
The purpose of Willo has been to connect with community and cricket clubs to create awareness and pathways to know how to include all people who live with Autism and neurodiversity.
The information below is so important to understand.
98% of Australians have heard of autism, but only 15% of autistic people believe the public know how autism effects them.
Autistic people want the community to understand 6 ways autism affects people and simple ways you can support them and help create an autism friendly world.
Autism presents differently in every person. No two autistic people experience autism in the same way. But common to all autistic people will be challenges in social communication and interaction and adjusting to their physical environment.
Life will be better for autistic people if more people in the community understand how autism affects people.
Autistic people and their families have said the main ways autism impacts people that they want other people to be aware of are as follows:
http://www.onethingforautism.com.au/six-things-to-know/
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#autism #connect #learn #community #include #iknowwill #together #understanding
We love this show.
Macca connects with people all over Australia in towns and communities with amazing stories via Australia All over.
We’ve been invited to meet him and share our work with all our communities and our artists.
Perhaps we can get him to paint a bat for @bunburybatsforwill and #heyfieldbatsforwill 😊
Next Sunday !!
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#australiaallover #iknowwill #stories #cricket #humans #inclusion #community
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
