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The PCYC NSW Fit for Life Program is now in full swing in the Hawkesbury, giving local young people aged 10 to 16 the chance to improve their health, wellbeing, and confidence. The program has quickly become a hub for students to start their day with physical activity, healthy habits, and positive social engagement.
Running twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:30am, the program brings together around 20 participants per session. It targets students from all local high schools, including Hawkesbury High School, Richmond High School, Windsor High School, Colo High School, and McCarthy Catholic College. Each session includes exercise, a healthy breakfast, and mentorship from positive role models, with transport to school provided to ensure students begin the day focused and energized.
“We do it to help out the kids in the community, hoping to get them off the street and out of juvy, and knowing that police officers are there to help them,” said Piper Chambers, a PCYC worker.
The program is designed to build confidence, leadership, communication skills, and prosocial behaviours. Participants engage in a wide range of activities that promote physical health, healthy sleep patterns, and a sense of belonging. PCYC reports that it also helps improve school attendance and encourages personal growth, giving young people the tools to make positive choices in their lives.
Parents have welcomed the program, seeing it as an opportunity for their children to connect with positive role models in a safe, structured environment. Piper said, “I just love that there is a safe place for kids to come and build an actual relationship with people, and that there is a goal to help the young people in the community. PCYC is a great place for kids who need help from food, accommodation, and many other problems, the police can support them.”
The program’s inclusive approach means there are no barriers to participation, giving every young person in the Hawkesbury the chance to get involved and benefit from the program. The structured mornings, combined with mentorship and access to supportive adults, make it a unique initiative in the region.
Families interested in enrolling their children can contact PCYC NSW or their school for more information. With its combination of fitness, nutrition, and mentorship, the Fit for Life Program continues to provide a vital service to the Hawkesbury’s youth, helping them stay active, healthy, and connected.
For more information you can contact PCYC on (02) 4505 5070 or contact the Youth Engagement Officers of the NSW Police Youth Command from PCYC Hawkesbury at hawkesbury@pcycnsw.org.au for more information.
