THE Fit for Life program at Moree PCYC is back for Term 4, with before-school sessions scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Fit for Life, co-ordinated by Moree PCYC staff in partnership with Moree Secondary College Clontarf Academy and NSW Police youth engagement officers, is designed for 10- to 16-year-olds.

The program promotes physical fitness, wellbeing and educational engagement, and is unique in the way it works.

After structured morning exercises, Fit for Life participants are served a nutritious breakfast, and driven to school safely in a PCYC bus.

Moree PCYC acting manager Alex Noble said the ongoing connection between the local Clontarf Academy and Moree PCYC is a powerful example of how community partnerships can make a real difference in the lives of young people.

“Over the years, it has been a great pleasure getting to know all the Clontarf boys during our Tuesday and Thursday morning breakfasts, and through the wide range of activities available at the club,” Mr Noble said.

“It’s not only the younger Year 7 students who get involved – we’ve had the opportunity to connect with students all the way through to Year 12.

“This strong relationship has meant that even outside school hours, the boys feel comfortable dropping by the club for a chat, or stopping in the community to say ‘hello’,” he said.

“Our connection with Clontarf at Moree Secondary College allows us to give back to our youth by providing opportunities to stay active and engaged.

“We also work closely with NSW Youth Officers and the Aboriginal community liaison officer, who visits regularly to support and interact with the boys.

During the time Clontarf has been attending PCYC, I’ve had the honour of meeting many students who take pride in their culture and community,” Mr Noble said.

Some of the Fit for Life boys at Moree PCYC this week, with Moree Clontarf Academy director, Alex Barker, and Moree PCYC acting manager, Alex Noble.

“These young men consistently show initiative and respect – whether it’s helping one another, assisting community members at Woolworths, or simply putting away gym equipment at the end of a session.

“Their actions truly reflect the positive values fostered through the Clontarf program.”

Moree Clontarf Academy director, Alex Barker, said the early morning exercise and breakfast are perfect before-school activities.

“This is really good for the boys. It helps them build routine, and getting them up early twice a week to come here and do physical exercise prepares them for the day ahead,” Mr Barker said.

“They have a good breakfast afterwards. We get them to school at about 8.30am – the boys are ready to go.

“We get a good roll-up – about 15 to 20 some mornings – and we try to switch it up every now and again. During the winter months, we stay inside, mainly in the gym, and as it gets warmer we head outside,” he said.

Mr Barker said all the boys look forward to the early starts twice a week.

“We start picking up the boys from around 6am and rock up to the PCYC at 7am. Alex (Noble) always helps out with the cooking, and the boys have breakfast at about 8am,” he said.

“They exercise for about an hour – it’s good for the boys. I think any type of movement early is always good.

“Like all kids, they love their gaming and phones but the good thing is, they’ll allocate time in the morning and prioritise.

“This training is one of our main activities. We also have afternoon activities and camps, and everything flows around that,” Mr Barker said.

Mentorship is a valuable element of Fit for Life. Youth can confide in PCYC staff about anything.

In the year to date, more than 3900 young people across New South Wales have signed up for Fit for Life, with more than 24,000 attendances, compared to 18,900 for the same period last year.

Demand for the program is set to rise, with a growing number of young people in need of support as they face social challenges like loneliness, lack of access to activities, troubles at school or navigating social media.

Fit for Life participants should demonstrate a willingness to engage in physical fitness activities, nutritional learning, and social engagement.

The program is designed to be accessible to all, with no barriers to participation, and aims to support participants with access to positive role models and community connection.

“By supporting these students to engage, give back, and take pride in who they are, the program continues to shape confident, respectful and community-minded young men for the future,” Mr Noble said.

Moree PCYC is open six days a week – 6am until 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am until midday on Saturdays.

Activities for all ages include basketball, gymnastics Monday to Thursday, pickleball on Tuesday, Futsal Wednesday nights and the Unites program Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

There are also gym services available.