PCYC could be back in Armadale as early as next month after it received a funding boost from the local member.
Member for Armadale Tony Buti presented Gosnells PCYC Centre Manager Julie Cugley and PCYC South East Metro Area manager Mark Finch with a $110,000 cheque on September 8 to support the development of an Off the Rails program in Armadale.
The program currently runs in Gosnells and is designed to help children who spend nights near train stations or used the train line to engage in antisocial behaviour.
The program will not mark the permanent return of PCYC to Armadale, but Ms Cugley said it was important to get a program back in the area.
She said giving children a positive environment was the best way to help young people who were at risk of going down the wrong path.
“It’s to give them a safe space to hang out at and engage with activities,” she said.
“A lot of them come from dysfunctional home lives and it gives them a sense of belonging.
“Many of them don’t feel like they belong any more or have a space in the community.”
PCYC left Armadale in 2015, which forced its gymnastics club and police rangers to find new homes.
Mr Finch said the specifics of the Off the Rails program were still being decided and it would be run so as to not interfere with other support services in the area.
“We’re working on it now to make sure we have the best quality programs out here to benefit young people,” he said.
Dr Buti had pledged the grant before the state election and he said he would be glad to see PCYC operating in Armadale.
“When they moved from Armadale I thought it was terrible,” he said.
“This program is great for the area.
“PCYC is something I really, strongly think we need in Armadale.”
The funding was enough to run the program for one year.
Organisers said it could be operating as early as the start of term four this year, but if it did not meet that deadline it would open early 2018.
A host location for the program had not yet been decided but organisers were working with local organisations, the City of Armadale and Armadale Police to determine the best location.
