30/06/2026
Proud to play a small part with these legends ❤️❤️
From the Bendigo Advertiser
Forced to move out of Hargreaves Mall, youth group finds an unexpected home a service that helps at-risk young people from getting into trouble has found a new winter home, after nearly being evicted from their spot on the street by the Bendigo council.
Street Peace is a faith-based program that provides mentorship for young people.
In the past, team members have been able to talk to young people at Hargreaves Mall every Wednesday evening.
However, concerns over large groups of youths congregating in the mall prompted a directive from the Bendigo council to move on.
Street Peace had nowhere to go until they were offered the use of the Let's Chat Mental Health building next to Bendigo train station.
Holly Phillis undertakes administration and communications support for Street Peace, and is delighted to have been offeed the new space.
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"We were so excited, we were kind of like a bit shocked," she said.
How they got the space
Struggling to find a new space, the Street Peace team invited councillors and business owners to lunch.
We just shared the vision basically for Street Peace ... we voiced our need for a building," Ms Phillis said.
"Eventually one of the attendees said 'you can use Let's Chat Park basically every Wednesday, whatever you need, just let me know'."
The extreme ease and suddenness of getting the space took the leadership team by surprise.
"We didn't expect to be sitting around this table, voicing our need and then someone to be like 'oh yeah, we've got that covered,' like we didn't expect that," Ms Phillis said.
Now the leadership team is optimistic about the future.
For volunteer Jackson Penman, getting the space was crucial, not only for the continuation of Street Peace, but to connect with children and to remain a positive role model.
"It's a privilege to come out and feed the kids food, but also to just work alongside them, to mentor them in any way, shape or form," Mr Penman said.
"It's an amazing thing to see how Street Peace is moving and just becoming a family."
The problem
Street Peace had previously operated in Hargreaves Mall on Wednesday nights, before they were told they were no longer allowed to by the Bendigo council.
According to another member of the leadership team, Talitha Hunter, concerns centred on large groups congregating in the CBD.
"The council are not wanting us to continue to gather in large groups here on the street because of the perception it has when you have 40 kind of rougher kids all in the one space," Ms Hunter said.
The council has consistently defended its action, advocating for the greater interest.
"We need to balance the needs of all users of the mall," a council spokesperson said at the time.
However, the hassle of finding a new place, came at the right time.
"We don't want to meet out on the street anymore," Ms Hunter said, citing the cold weather as a big deterrent.
Street Peace will host its first night in the new location on Wednesday, July 1.
