Established in 1937 with a mission to empower young people to be active, build capability and connect with the community, PCYC NSW is a youth charity that is ‘built by community’.
PCYC’s youth programs positively impact more than 13,000 participants in New South Wales each year, and with the support of local organisations, PCYC can make a greater impact. Club Manager Sarah Lenton said PCYC Lake Macquarie has been able to expand its services through working with other charities in the Hunter region.
“PCYC plays a fundamental role in our community as a central point of connection and support for young people and their families,” said Lenton. “We are committed to strengthening the safety net available to young people, through joint efforts with other local community services.”
PCYC Lake Macquarie has joined forces with OzHarvest to ensure young people have access to nutritious meals during Fit for Life, a before-school PCYC youth program that transforms lives through physical activity and mentorship.
“This support extends to people of all ages and backgrounds in need of food relief. We want the community to know that PCYC is a safe, supportive space for all,” Lenton added.
OzHarvest also supports PCYC members through ‘Nourish’, a free hospitality training program for 16 to 25-year-olds. Participants graduate with a nationally recognised Certificate II in Cookery, new life skills and opportunities for work or further education.
“Key stakeholders, including the PCYC staff, NSW Police Youth Command officers and OzHarvest Nourish, collaborate to provide wrap-around supports to achieve the best outcomes for participants,” OzHarvest youth worker Kellie Griffin said.
PCYC Lake Macquarie also works with youth organisation Arise Community Support. Arise provides a staff member to help oversee PCYC’s Friday night U-Nites program, which is designed to divert young people from antisocial behaviour by providing a safe, supervised space for young people to hang out at night.
“Approximately 75% of our youth attend PCYC programs. This creates a collaborative environment where we all support each other, and we share resources where needed,” Arise program facilitator Chantelle Baglin said.
When a young person is in need, PCYC and Arise collaborate to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, including new clothing and shoes.
“The stronger PCYC’s collaboration with community services is across New South Wales, the greater the outcomes we can achieve together for the young people and communities we serve,” Lenton said.
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Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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