Fit for Life - PCYC Coffs Harbour | Tursa Employment & Training

TURSA Sponsorship helps support Coffs Harbour PCYC Youth Program.

The Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Coffs Harbour deliver a number of youth and community engagement programs. The PCYC Fit for Life program is an initiative to provide a supportive environment for young people facing personal and social challenges. The program offers a range of activities, including sports, arts, and mentoring, to help young people develop resilience and positive life skills. This article will explore the PCYC Fit for Life program and how it works.

What is the PCYC Fit for Life Program?

The PCYC Fit for Life program is designed to provide a safe and supportive space for young people facing personal or social challenges. These challenges may include family issues, drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, or difficulties with school or employment. The program aims to empower young people to develop resilience and positive life skills through various activities and experiences.

How Does the Program Work?

The PCYC Fit for Life program is a structured program that runs for several months, typically 1 school term. Participants attend regular sessions where they engage in activities to build their skills, confidence, and self-esteem. These activities may include sports, such as basketball or boxing, or creative activities. The program also provides mentoring and support from trained youth workers who work with participants to set goals and develop life strategies to achieve them.

The program is delivered in a group setting, with participants working together to build positive relationships and support each other. The group setting provides a sense of belonging and helps young people feel connected to their peers and community. This can be particularly important for young people who feel isolated or disconnected from their peers and community.

Who Can Participate in the Program?

The PCYC Fit for Life program is open to young people between 10 and 18 who face personal or social challenges. Participants may be referred to the program by schools, community organizations, or other support services, or they may self-refer.

The program is designed to be inclusive and accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, and young people with disabilities.

What are the Benefits of the Program?

The PCYC Fit for Life program has been shown to have a range of benefits for young people who participate. These benefits include:

Improved self-esteem and confidence
Enhanced social skills and the ability to build positive relationships
Increased resilience and the ability to cope with challenges
Improved mental health and well-being
Reduced risk-taking behaviours, such as drug and alcohol use
Enhanced educational outcomes, including increased attendance and engagement in school.

The program also provides opportunities for young people to develop new skills and interests, which can help build their identity and purpose.

Senior Sergeant Charles Browning discusses the Fit for Life Program details and other opportunities provided at PCYC to support community engagement.

“I supervise the far North Coast sector of the police. I’m at the PCYC Coffs Harbour today and am happy to tell you more about the Fit for Life program.

The Fit for Life program is an introductory program that involves police and young people. It is aimed at at-risk young people and serves as an introduction to PCYC and the police force, intending to break down barriers.

The program involves exercising for half an hour, breakfast, and transportation to school. Generally, the program runs for the school term, but there may be activities during school holidays, depending on availability.

Fit for Life is open to any young person between the ages of 5 to 18, but we usually focus on the 10 to 18 age group.
The program has been running for about five years now, and we have seen a marked change in the engagement of young people. The program has broken down many barriers, allowing young people to converse with police officers more freely.

Aside from Fit for Life, we have other programs such as Rise Up. The Rise Up program has several components, such as Fit Together, which involves Aboriginals and Elders working together to address youth problems.

Fit for Service covers all aspects of professional services such as police, ambulance, fire brigade, ADF, and other professionals like life-saving. This program is an introduction to careers in these fields, giving young people a summary of what it might look like.

Lastly, Fit to Learn addresses difficulties in learning and provides programs to help young people overcome these challenges.

Overall, we have a comprehensive range of programs that aim to improve the lives of young people and help them overcome barriers.”

In Conclusion
The PCYC Fit for Life program is a valuable initiative to support young people facing personal and social challenges. The program provides a safe and supportive space where young people can develop resilience and positive life skills through various activities and experiences. The program has been shown to have a range of benefits for young people who participate, including improved self-esteem, enhanced social skills, and improved mental health and well-being. If you or someone you know could benefit from the PCYC Fit for Life program, exploring the options available in your local area is worth exploring.

TURSAs commitment to communities is reflected in their passionate support of programs like Fit for Life that generate positive outcomes.

Tursa Employment and Training