Kempsey · Macleay Valley · NSW

A new chapter
for young people
in the Valley

Beyond the Bell is a social enterprise building pathways into employment and community connection for young people in the Macleay Valley region.

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About Us

Who we are

Beyond the Bell is a grassroots social enterprise project based in Kempsey, on Dunghutti Country, in the heart of the Macleay Valley. We're here because we believe young people in regional communities deserve more — more opportunity, more connection, and more hope.

We're at the very beginning of this journey. Right now, we're building relationships, listening to the community, and laying the groundwork for something meaningful. The long-term vision is a community café — a place for training, connection, and belonging.

This website is our way of keeping you in the loop as the project takes shape.

Community-first — decisions made with locals, not just for them
Youth-led — young people are partners, not just recipients
Honest progress — sharing the real journey, wins and all
Beyond the Bell community
Kempsey, NSW Macleay Valley region
Our Vision

Beyond the school bell —
into real life

The "bell" is the school bell — that moment when young people step out into the world and find... not much waiting for them in a town like Kempsey. We want to change that.

"A community café that trains young people in hospitality, builds confidence, and gives the Macleay Valley a new kind of gathering place."
01

Employment Pathways

Real, hands-on training in hospitality and customer service — giving young people credentials and confidence for the workforce.

02

Community Hub

A warm, welcoming space where young people can gather, connect, and know they belong — not just pass through.

03

Social Enterprise

A sustainable, self-funding model — the café generates income that goes back into the program and the community.

Our Process

How we're getting there

We're taking this one step at a time — building trust, building skills, and building something that lasts.

Connect & Listen

Meeting young people and community members where they are. Understanding what's needed most.

Build & Plan

Developing the project structure, partnerships, and funding foundations to make it real.

Train & Grow

Running programs that build real skills in hospitality, communication, and professional life.

Open the Doors

Launch the community café — a sustainable hub owned and shaped by the people of the Valley.

Updates

What's happening

Get notified of new updates
☀️
Community April 2025

Beyond the Bell launches

We're officially getting started — introducing the project to the Kempsey community and beginning conversations about what's needed most.

🌱
Milestone Coming soon

Community listening sessions

We're planning a series of conversations with young people and local organisations. Want to be involved? Sign up below.

📋
News In progress

Building our partnerships

We're reaching out to local businesses, training providers, and support organisations to build the network that will make this work.

Events

Come along

We'll be hosting community conversations, info sessions, and get-togethers as the project takes shape. Check back here — and sign up below to be the first to know.

Events coming soon

We're planning our first community sessions. Sign up for updates so you don't miss out.

Get Involved

We're looking for people who care

Beyond the Bell is looking for a broad range of people from across the Macleay Valley region who have an interest in supporting the future for local young people in Kempsey — whether that's your professional skills, lived experience, local knowledge, or just a willingness to show up.

There's no fixed commitment at this stage. We just want to hear from you and start building a community of people who want to see this succeed.

Sign up for updates

We'll be in touch as opportunities to get involved open up.

Leadership Team

The people behind the project

01
Mayor Kinne Ring
Chair
02
Tania Riordan
03
Kylie Anderson
04
Scott Charlton
05
Rachel Brenton-Morros
06
Tara Howard
07
Piers Grove
Advisor
Our Sponsor

Supported by StartSomeGood

Beyond the Bell is proudly supported by StartSomeGood — a social enterprise platform that helps community-driven projects like ours get off the ground. StartSomeGood acts as the sponsoring social enterprise for this initiative, providing the organisational backbone that lets us focus on what matters: the community.

Visit startsomegood.com
StartSomeGood