For most of us, childhood is a collection of our life’s most precious moments. It should be a time when we are worry free and our days filled with endless fun, games, and laughter.

Sadly, hundreds of kids don’t get this opportunity to make these lifelong, cherished memories as they appear ‘different’ and are excluded.

ONE in SIX Australian children experience social exclusion.

The physical, emotional, and mental effects of this can be lifelong. It can affect children’s sleep, educational achievements, behaviour and cause depression and anxiety.

Children become aware of their social rejection from around the age of eight.

Friend In Me is a charity that is on a crusade to break the cycle of exclusion and prevent the negative effects in childhood and adulthood.

This organisation wants to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that children can experience by bringing families together to meet, share, laugh and connect with each other.

Their goal is to have reached 5,000 families by 2025. By 2030 Friend In Me wants to make sure that no child is left behind.

To celebrate World Inclusion Day, Friend In Me is encouraging the community to host their own Friend In Me Day celebrations on Thursday 6th October to help raise funds, as well as promote inclusion and kindness.

“We want to bring together all ages, nationalities and abilities to dance, play, sing, create and most importantly, make lifelong friends and memories they will cherish forever,” shares Friend In Me Founder, Louise Larkin.

Louise adds: “Friend In Me Day is a great opportunity for families, childcare centres, kinders, schools and community groups to get dressed up, party and have fun for a good cause. Together we can make the change.”

To find out more about Friend In Me Day or to register your interest in hosting an event, please visit https://www.friendinme.org.au/friendinmeday.