A brainstorming session between community leaders and $39000 in funding from the Nationals in NSW Government has been utilised to address local concern about teenagers roaming the streets of Grafton late at night.
Grafton PCYC is now running After Dark Basketball from 6-12pm each Friday, providing youths aged between 10 and 19 with a positive alternative to hanging out at unsupervised locations.
Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said After Dark Basketball involves local youth groups, Clarence Valley Council (CVC) and officers from the Coffs/Clarence Police District and gives young people the chance to have a free main meal and PCYC club membership, along with plenty of fun and mentoring.
“Projects like the After Dark Basketball program are great examples of how we can help young people build resilience and improve wellbeing by providing them with the tools and resources they need to become the best version of themselves,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of PCYC NSW Dominic Teakle believes that sport and activity provide a vehicle for young people to achieve greatness.
“As a youth charity, PCYC NSW has been at the centre of communities across the state for over 85 years, and we are excited to be the recipients of the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative grant to further develop the youth in the local Grafton community through the After Dark Basketball Project,” he said.
“With our partners at the NSW Police Force we aim to reduce and prevent crime by and against young people by building resilience, encouraging positive life choices, and giving them a place to belong.”
Minister for Regional Youth and the North Coast Nationals Ben Franklin said the $10.3 million Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative offers large grants between $10000 and $50000, and small grants for up to $10000.
“The large grants fund projects such as community events, peer support groups, cultural connection or partnership programs, while small grants are to enable initiatives like sporting programs and barbecues,” he said.
“Our Regional Youth Community Coordinators will help connect young people with the projects that best support their wellbeing and recovery and foster resilience and connection.”
The Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative is funded through the NSW Covid-19 Economic Recovery Initiative, and the co-funded NSW and Australian Governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for funding for wellbeing programs, events and resources as part of the initiative.
For program and eligibility guidelines, visit nsw.gov.au/YouthWellbeing.
After Dark Basketball scores plenty of points with community feedback
Emma Pritchard
The Clarence Valley Independent spoke with several members of the public last week and asked them if they believe there is an issue with youths wandering the streets late at night, and if projects like After Dark Basketball at the Grafton PCYC are successful ways to address local concern.
Tai Goodwin: I think any projects or programs which help to keep youths off the streets late at night is a win-win for the local community. I grew up in a small town where there weren’t many opportunities for teenagers and younger kids, and a fair few of us ended up getting into trouble. By providing youngsters with an outlet, or a source of entertainment in a safe environment, the risk of them ending up in strife due to boredom is greatly reduced. These sort of programs do a lot to address youth mental health issues as well because of the support networks and the mentoring which is involved with them, and they also do a lot to help raise self-esteem and self-confidence.
Peter Dunston: Absolutely, I reckon regional communities need to invest in more programs like the After Dark Basketball at the Grafton PCYC. We need to provide a safe place for kids to hang out if they don’t want to be at home. I’ve seen and heard too many kids walking around late at night, and you can’t help but feel concerned because you don’t know what they might get up to.
Kerrie Hynes: I think the concept is great, I just hope the attendance rates are high and they continue to stay high. I get very worried when I see groups of kids roaming the streets late at night, and hopefully more and more of them will want to go and play basketball instead.
Masen Sands: Yeah, I think it’s a good idea. Lots of kids walk around the main street during the night, which can be dangerous.
Jessica Fenley: Even if kids don’t want to play basketball, the PCYC at Grafton offers a lot of interactive opportunities for our youths, and we’re very lucky to have it. It’s really good that the project runs on a Friday night too, because that seems to be the time of the week when the biggest number of kids seem to be wandering the streets looking for something to do.