The NSW Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) branch has been thrilled to provide hundreds young people in Western Plains communities with multiple evenings of fun and engaging activities to break up their school holidays during its recent tour of regional NSW.

Several towns, including Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Coonamble, Warren, Nyngan and Narromine, were visited by staff from PCYC Walgett for several free events as part of the organisation's summer 'BBQ and Beats' tour earlier this month.

PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle said he was pleased the tour could go ahead over the 2021/22 Christmas holidays after the April 2021 tour was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"The BBQ and Beats tour allows us to reach young people who are not near one of our 67 clubs and (still) bring them activities and fun during the school holidays," Mr Teakle said.

"It's been a tough time for families in regional NSW and we are very happy to have brought some fun and activity back into these towns."

Games of tug-of-war, like this one in Nyngan on Wednesday 19 January, was one of several activities organised by PCYC for local youths at their evening events. Image courtesy of PCYC NSW.

According to Mr Teakle, this tour was specifically designed to get young people hardest hit by the isolating impacts of COVID-19 restrictions active and engaged in their community. 

In order to help with this community engagement he said the PCYC team works with the local police command and NSW Police Force Youth Command in each town they visit.

"It's a great opportunity for the local police officers to engage with young people in a fun and relaxed environment," he said.

Mr Teakle said the event with the biggest attendance in the Western Plains was Coonamble with about 100 young people turning up throughout the evening.

"The team had a great time at Coonamble on a very hot night! We had a great crowd at the swimming pool and cooked 150 sausages, which all got eaten," he said.

"Everyone built up an appetite with some competitive games of tug-of-war and frisbee battles with PCYC staff and officers from the Orana Mid-Western Police District."

As for the other Western Plains towns, where activities included games of basketball and other indoor activities, Mr Teakle said the energy and engagement remained high despite fewer attendees.

Narromine kids had a blast playing basketball at their local Sport and Fitness Centre at PCYC's last Western Plains stop on Thursday 20 January. Image courtesy of PCYC NSW.

"There were a few less young people at each of these towns, but on average we had 50 turn up," he said.

"We had local police officers and Youth Engagement Officers from PCYC Walgett at all of the locations.

"As always when BBQ & Beats is held inside the disco and the limbo games are the most popular!"