U-nites program returns to Narrabri

The PCYC school holiday U-nites outreach program came to Narrabri’s Collins Park on Wednesday, April 16, for some fun and football in the sun these school holidays.

The outreach program is an extension of the Wee Waa PCYC program which runs on a fortnightly basis, and the school holiday event coincided well with 2024 NSW Youth Week.

PCYC Gunnedah also came along to join in the fun, bringing some of their staff, sports equipment, and police members across for the day.

The day at the park was also facilitated by Chief Inspector Robert Dunn, and he was dressed down, and keen to be out of the office onto the field, kicking a ball around with the young community.

“Youth engagement programs are an important opportunity for our police department to mix with the kids, and it’s nice to see some of the troubled youth come and join in too,” said Chief Insp Dunn.

“It’s a less formal environment than what police normally have, and we’re out here having a bit of fun, and some lunch.

“And it gets the kids out of the house and off their mobile phones too.”

Cruze Morley also journeyed from Gunnedah PCYC and set up a boxing class for the local youth, and a barbecue lunch was cooked by the Narrabri Rotary Club, who donated their time and resources.

PCYC programs play an important role in assisting to bridge the gap between the police and the community.

“Dealing with the cops in a less formal environment, we’re not in uniforms, that’s a very important thing.

“Often, it’s the worst time of people’s lives, dealing with the cops, because they’re either on the wrong side of the law or a victim of a crime.

“It’s nice to do this in a social setting where the youth can get to know us and build personal relationships.

“One young lad asked me my name and now he’s been calling me Robert, which is great.”

Chief Insp Dunn has seen the benefits of the program in the past months, through the dramatic downward trends in property-related crime across the shire in the last 12 months.

“It’s been dramatic, and I think it’s through programs like the one run in Wee Waa where we have actual engagement and deal with these kids on a personal level,” said Chief Insp Dunn.