Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) at Walgett and Bourke have received $200,000 funding for their Bourke and Walgett Youth Achievement Programs. 

George Dickson, PYC Club Manager at Bourke said the funding would enable them to offer more activities and stay open more often during the summer school holidays. 

"Our aim is to create meaningful opportunities for the community and reduce youth crime. Most of our activities will be held at night to keep kids off the streets," Mr Dickson said. 

"We plan to hold movie nights, have the pool open, paint murals and even bring in a rock wall." 

Mr Dickson said that a similar program ran last summer with hardly any funding and resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in youth crime in the Bourke area. 

"Over summer we will be open almost every night," he said. "As it is, we have 50 to 60 regulars and we encourage more to attend." 

Mr Dickson said the community placed helping young people as a priority and PCYC worked closely with police to maintain relationships. 

Of the $200,000 funding, $50000 went to Bourke PCYC and $50000 went to Walgett PCYC with the remainder being used to bring in the Goanna Academy, the first accredited and Indigenous-owned mental health organisation in Australia. The Goanna Academy will run ongoing clinics and activities around mental health in both towns during 2023. 

Mr Dickson said ongoing programs helped local youth stay involved to see an eventual outcome.  

"There is a real value in this sort of program," he said. "When there is an end goal, we see kids staying more engaged." 

Minister for Western NSW Dugald Saunders said the funding will give kids in Bourke and Walgett something to be a part of over the summer.  

“They will be involved in sport, recreation and dinners, with transport offered to get them to and from the PCYC where the events will be held," Mr Saunders said.  

Young people in other towns in the region are encouraged to contact their local youth services to see what activities are on offer over the summer holidays.