What even is the Drop In Care Space?
We’re more than community centre - we’re a second (or third) home for a space for the community by the community, where neurodivergent, trans, queer and disabled adults can take a break, be themselves, meet new people and enjoy access to resources, activities and events.
What We Do
The Drop In Care Space is open five days a week where individuals can drop in. We provide a daily activities, regular events and an inclusive, sober space where you can:
watch movies and play video games
access free wi-fi
check out our diverse library
have a cup of tea
play board games
explore art and craft activities
body double
Volunteer and Lived Experience Run
The Drop In Care Space is managed by a volunteer board; a group of individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and/or disabled.
The Drop In Care Space is a peer run, community-driven space, and the work we do is thanks to the hard work and passion of our volunteers. Our community centre and its drop in hours are facilitated by our peer volunteers who all hold lived experience.
The Why
Our mission is to strengthen our community by fostering greater opportunities for people to thrive, celebrate their identity and lived experience, and ultimately build resources and skills to reduce isolation and distress.
Our goal is to increase accessibility to activities, events, resources and community spaces that promote connection and a sense of belonging. We believe this is a significant contributor in reducing distress and isolation in communities who are marginalised by society and left out of community spaces.
Our Story
Drop In Care Space was founded in 2020 by Sonny Jane, a neurodivergent, queer and disabled advocate who noticed something missing in the community.
Navigating their own experiences with mental health, neurodivergence and gender led them to recognising the need for community spaces where we can find other people who get it and feel less alone. However, as Sonny puts it,
“I didn’t just want another run of the mill community centre, I wanted a community space that felt like it was ours, like an extension of our home.”
After consulting with other queer peers, Sonny opened the Drop In Care Space within their former private peer support practice in March 2021; utilising the open room and kitchen facilities to create a bright, colourful community space for individuals to drop in and hang out.
After signifiant rise in attendance and popularity, the Drop In Care Space was registered as a charity and incorporated association and a lived experience board was formed.
Thanks to community support, we moved into our current building at the beginning of 2022 where we also received a grant from City of Adelaide to install a wheelchair accessible entrance and bathroom.
That’s just evidence of how powerful communities are.
Anti-Racism Statement
The Drop In Care Space are dedicated to the freedom from racial discrimination, harassment, and violence. We are committed to ensuring that individuals within our space are not disadvantaged because of their race, skin colour, nationality, descent, ethno-religion, or ethnic origin.
Racial discrimination of any form is not tolerated at the Drop In Care Space at any time. The Peer Team and volunteers have the responsibility of keeping the Care Space safe and to deal with complaints sensibly and effectively.
Racial discrimination is often combined with other forms of discrimination such as sexism and ableism. We acknowledge the importance of taking these forms of discrimination into account when eliminating racial discrimination.
All volunteers have a responsibility to implement this statement and anyone who uses the Drop In Care Space has the responsibility to act in accordance with it.
Thank you to our former peer volunteer Koa for writing our anti-racism statement.