Youth fishing project funded

Umina PCYC was presented with a cheque for $5000 by the NRMA on Wednesday, July 21, to help fund a program to assist alienated youth and reduce crime.

The program to be run through the PCYC is named "Hook, line and sinker - Fishing program" and is designed to get troubled youth off the streets by taking them fishing.

The program will target youth involved in criminal activity who are defined as "priority one" and are referred to the PCYC by local police.

"Fishing has been identified as an activity that a number of our priority one participants enjoy," according to a PCYC worker.

Under the plan police and volunteers will collect young people from their homes on a Sunday morning and take them to the Umina PCYC.

They will be given breakfast and advised on their offending behaviour such as use of drugs and alcohol.

Afterwards a fishing workshop will be held offering skills and tips on fishing and participants will have the chance to use these skills at popular fishing spots across the Central Coast.

At the completion of the six-week program, they will be rewarded with an overnight trip to Port Stephens PCYC where they will get to compete in a fishing competition and drug and alcohol workshop.

The grant was made as part of an NRMA Insurance Community Help Grants program which encourages community groups to reduce risk and increase safety in their own communities.

Press releases, July 21 Umina PCYC, NRMA Insurance