The Police Citizens Youth Club at Lake Macquarie has received a share in almost $143,000 in funding for Youth Diversionary Projects.
The Lake Macquarie initiative is set to support at-risk youth by combining supervised recreational activities and educational workshops with evening meals and bus transport home.
The funding will also employ a specialist youth worker for the PCYC Club in Windale for a year to develop and deliver structured programs and will provide the club with entertainment facilities, including air hockey and a pool table.
NSW Minister for Police Troy Grant said the diversionary programs will take the idle time away from young people who would normally be getting up to mischief.
"We partner with government and non-government agencies to develop programs to divert young people from the criminal justice system.
"Having worked in the Lake Macquarie area Detectives office at Charlestown, I knew the area well and for a long time, it has had some socioeconomic and youth crime problems," Mr Grant said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the programs will provide a supportive environment to engage at-risk youth to keep them off the streets.
"Around that Windale area, people would like to think that they have got the opportunity to engage in positive activities, good networks and good mentors.
"It provides a place for people who are having trouble at home to go and talk to some adults or their friends who are going through similar growing up challenges.
"Kids at that age need support and that is why I think it is very important that we do not overcategorize every child at that age as an issue or a problem, but sometimes you just need that little bit of positive mentoring," Mr MacDonald said.
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| Lake Macquarie PCYC. Source: PCYC Facebook. |
