Group 61

Group 61 is a Brisbane based charity that enhances the quality of life of people affected by mental health issues living in the community. Matching up volunteers with ‘friends’, the charity organises social catch ups over coffee once a week to break sufferers’ isolation and get them out of their homes and into the community.
Group 61 was founded in late 2000, by John Fox, a retired accountant from North Queensland who realised a particular group of the community were going largely unnoticed.

Whilst John was out door-knocking for Neighbourhood Watch, a door was answer by a disheveled, solitary man in filthy clothes. The young man, invited John to come in for a cup of coffee and he accepted. From this chance encounter, John gained insight into the cold, isolated reality of people affected by mental health issues, and realized that many of these people within the community go unnoticed.

After meeting this young man, John felt stirred to help this group of people and so Group 61 was born.

For the last 11 years, Group 61 has worked tirelessly and compassionately to support those un-recognised Brisbane residents struggling with mental health issues – particularly who are not “severe” enough to be hospitalised but are not well enough to be active in their communities.

Volunteers are paired up with ‘friends’ who suffer from poor mental health. Volunteers take their friends out for a coffee once a week. This simple act provides these forgotten members of the community much needed social interaction and grants them greater freedom and confidence.

When Group 61 began, there were 4 volunteers and 5 “friends” being supported. Today, 82 year old John heads up 70 volunteers and over 90 “friends” (with hundreds more on a waiting list).  Today like any charity, Group 61 faces constant struggles, particularly in relation to funding and trying to support the large number of people in need. This is where you come in!