Every Friday morning from 7.30am – 8.30am the NDCAS Youth Centre will be trialling a free barbecue breakfast for high school students.

The program will begin tomorrow morning, on the corner of Maitland and Fitzroy Streets, and will run until the end of the 2021 school term.

NDCAS hope to continue the program into 2022, with the possibility of expanding the service.

“We’d love to build upon our capabilities, with the vision of meeting our contracted Targeted Early Intervention program,” NDCAS community development worker Kayla Nehrkorn explained.

“Which means creating opportunities, like this weekly breakfast program, to offer flexible support to children, young people, families and communities experiencing or at risk of vulnerability. We encourage all secondary school students to come along, enjoy a meal together, and check out the centre.

“The NDCAS Youth Centre is a safe space for high school age locals to study, learn everyday skills, set and work towards goals for now and the future, and have fun.”

This program is just one of the initiatives NDCAS has run throughout the year.

As well as travelling to different communities across Narrabri Shire for colour runs in May, the Youth Centre also hosted the Walkabout Barber in July. The Youth Centre only opened in 2021, so the NDCAS team are keen to continue building upon their delivery by offering more new opportunities.

This latest initiative will be the first to focus specifically on breakfast.

“Learning on an empty stomach just isn’t effective,” Ms Nehrkorn said.

“So, by ensuring we have these weekly breakfasts, we hope to better prepare vulnerable high school aged children for the day ahead.”

The program is one of the many ways in which NDCAS Youth Centre staff support young people in achieving their professional and creative goals.

In addition to this support, the Youth Centre also offers a friendly and safe space for young people to meet, professional staff to talk to, living skills spaces and training, self-confidence programs, self-control programs, information and connection to additional supports and services, dedicated study and training rooms and a range of recreational activities.

For more information, please contact the NDCAS office on (02) 6792 4900.

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