Why we 'all need a tribe'

Published 5:03am 15 November 2024

Words by Kylie Knight

In the lead-up to International Men's Day, we are shining a light on the men in our community making a difference.

Ryan Elson believes in the power of human connection to help people reach their potential but also feel as though they have a valued place in the world.

For him, creating opportunity through connection is logical and this philosophy is at the heart of Tribe Social Belonging – a charity he founded in 2018.

Back then, he was personally enduring a tough time which made him realise how much harder it would be if he didn’t have a tribe to support him.

The concept started with coffee mornings and beach barbecues and has since evolved, with Tribe Clubhouse opening about two years ago.

The venue is a place where people, of all abilities and from all backgrounds, can meet to play cards or games, sing karaoke, listen to music or comedy, enjoy arts and crafts, or grab a drink.

Ryan says the clubhouse is helping people, who would otherwise feel isolated, but has also given members of his team purpose and a place where they belong and can make a valuable contribution.

“We all need a tribe whatever that tribe is, whether it’s your netball club, your knitting club ... sporting teams are amazing for it, but a lot of people can’t do that. What we try to get is that feeling of belonging, purpose and inclusion,” he explains.

“In the early days it was just to get people together, and it was as much for me to try to heal, but what it’s become now is a wonderful place where people assist each other and give each other a hand and be there for each other.

“I’m a big believer in ... it takes a village to raise a kid and I firmly believe the community is important.

“These people who say someone should do something and then do nothing ... shame on them.”

Part of his mantra of doing something has been the launch of Tribe Drive about 12 months ago.

It’s a free program which helps learner drivers attain driving hours needed to go for their licence, providing a car and supervising driver.

“I used to do some unemployment training, mostly for people with learning difficulties ... we were doing our best for these people and were trying, but they couldn’t get their licences because they’re low-socioeconomic, haven’t got any parents, they haven’t got anyone who drives and some idiot in bureaucracy says you’ve got to do 100 hours no matter what,” Ryan explains.

“That’s just not doable for a lot of people.”

Tribe Drive received help from Bendigo Bank and was able to buy an automatic 2005 Toyota Echo.

“It’s done so much good,” Ryan says.

Tribe Drive has just put its main driving volunteer through a course, so he is now a qualified instructor and can advise the other volunteers or learner drivers who need additional support.

“We’ve just bought another car ... that will be so we can continue to do our volunteer stuff, which is for free, but also we can get people who need a bit of assistance but haven’t got the finance,” Ryan says.

Tribe Drive will provide driving lessons for about $70-80, reducing financial barriers facing many wanting to learn how to drive.

Get Out of Town is another project Ryan is working on and hopes to launch in 2025.

“There’re so many kids in this area who have never been out of Redcliffe. I’m talking kids who are 25 years old. There’s a big world out there and there’s so many wonderful things to see,” he explains.

Ryan would love to take the organisation’s ‘mothership’ a Kia Carnival interstate or to parts of regional Queensland, connecting with farmers and sharing new experiences with young people.

“Everything we do is about opportunity through connection. I can’t help but think that if everyone did a little of that things would be a whole lot easier,” he says.

To find out more about Tribe Social Belonging, or to volunteer for Tribe Drive, phone 0422 232 437 or email [email protected]

To see the full list of activities, search Tribe Clubhouse on Facebook