Funding the expand a successful program – participants Tyler Carson, left, Tyson Ahoy, Silas Smith, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Armidale PCYC Club Manager Sam Davis, President Brian Flint and Liam Munro pictured this morning after the club’s daily boxing program.
Friday, 13 March 2020
ARMIDALE PCYC will soon be delivering the most important meal of the day to a greater number of the city’s disadvantaged youth, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announcing $100,000 in State Government funding to expand and refurbish its building on Rusden Street.
Mr Marshall attended the PCYC’s morning youth boxing program today to make the announcement. The successful program is aimed at improving the health and educational outcomes of local young people.
“We all live incredibly busy lives and know the importance of exercise and a nutritious breakfast to begin the day,” Mr Marshall.
“This boxing program has been growing year on year with PCYC providing fitness classes, breakfast and transport to school for between 50 to 80, mainly Aboriginal kids.
“The club will use this grant to enclose its existing court yard to create a new indoor breakfast eating area, which will be beneficial in the cold winter months.”
The existing wooden kitchen will be replaced by an industrial, stainless steel facility, allowing staff to cater for larger numbers.
“Finally the old shower and bathroom facilities will be fully refurbished to provide children with access to hot water so they can shower before heading off to school,” Mr Marshall said.
“This program has gone a long way to building relationship between youth and local police, and is a real credit to everyone who gets up early and is involved.”
PCYC Armidale Club Manager Sam Davis said the building was officially opened in the 1960s and certain amenities no longer met modern standards.
“This funding will really allow us to improve our facilities and increase the number of children who can take part and benefit from this program,” Mr Davis said.
“We know if kids skip or eat unhealthy breakfasts they struggle to concentrate during the day and they ultimately have lower health and education outcomes.
“Teachers tell us all the time how much better behaved their students are at in class, because they have had burnt off energy and have food in their belly.
“As an added bonus PCYC is a registered training organisation and will use the new kitchen to provide hospitality training to our young people, equipping them with the skills they need to successfully go out into the workforce.
“PCYC does an incredible job supporting at risk kids and I see this funding as a real opportunity to give those young people a chance to maximise their potential both in and out of the classroom.”