MOREE PCYC opened the Virtual Reality Room last week to accommodate for the expansion of the U-nites program after the announcement from NSW Premier Chris Minns for funding to help curb juvenile crime in Moree.
The local PCYC was awarded $285,000 to expand the U-Nites program to Thursday and Saturday evenings until 10pm each night.
Various programs, including U-Nites, aim to help young people build positive friendships and a deeper connection to their community and culture, learn practical life skills and stay off the streets late at night.
Moree PCYC manager Tayla Macey said kids will interact with NRL Pathfinders’ mentors at U-Nites.
“A television will link everyone and kids can interact with NRL stars as opposed to being on a smaller computer screen,” Ms Macey said.
“Having it this way is group focused. At the moment, it’s more centred around one-on-one interactions, whereas the bigger screen allows us to open it up to other people, which means more group conversations among the kids and the mentors.
“In the next couple of weeks, we’re hoping to get Cody Walker and one of the female NRL stars, but we haven’t confirmed who that might be.
“The screen is the main focus. We’ll have computers set up as well and we’ll also do livestream football and activities,” she said.
The NSW Government’s investment in Moree to address crime, offers service providers an opportunity to deliver more after-hours activities through the new innovative small-grants program, as well as support individuals and small businesses wanting to do more for young people in the Moree Shire.
The new small-grants program will provide flexible grants to encourage innovative community-led after-hours and weekend activities for young people across the Moree Shire.
Applicants can apply for grant funding between $500 and $10,000.
Moree PCYC is currently recruiting extra staff and also welcomes volunteers.
“We’ll open as a drop-in centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm until 10pm and the Virtual Reality Room will be incorporated into that schedule,” Ms Macey said.
“We are current recruiting staff, with a youth worker starting very shortly and we welcome volunteers as well.
“Working with children and police checks will need to be passed but other than that, we’d love members of the community to get on board as much as they can,” she said.
To learn more about the small-grants program, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/moree-after-hours-activities-grants
