and help us in building safer, healthier communities through youth development.
We are a charity that empowers young people to reach their goals and potential through state based police and community partnerships.
Our mission reflects the core elements of our work. PCYC’s sports, arts, education, and recreational activities focus on young people’s growth, goals, and potentials.
We aim to promote the welfare and development of young people with our commitment to helping them energetically enjoy life through our quality activities in a safe, fun, and friendly environment.
Through a diverse mix of revenue sources, we strive to conduct relevant programs and activities for young people in the community. Our success comes from less crime and more people feeling better about themselves.
We cannot achieve this without our volunteers and your ongoing support. Please dig deep and help us achieve our goal of empowering our youth.
Our PCYC Lottery is a charity lottery, also referred to as a raffle or art union. The PCYC Lottery significantly raises funds to support youth development for the PCYC New South Wales, St Kilda PCYC, Tasmania PCYC, PCYC Queensland, and Canberra PCYC.
Your support makes a difference and we make sure you benefit too!
PCYC was established in 1937 by Police Commissioner William John Mackay. It was a partnership forged with the community via Rotary and Police to provide young people a safe and positive alternative to the streets.
William John Mackay was born in Scotland in 1885, and had grown up on the streets of industrial squalor of 19th century Glasgow. As a teenager, Bill Mackay discovered that the only places he could meet his friends was out on the streets. There were no organised games, activities, or safe places.
At age 19, William Mackay followed his father into the City of Glasgow’s police force. Looking for greater opportunities afield, Mackay immigrated to Australia and in 1910 at the age of 25, joined the Police Force. In 1936, William Mackay, as the new Commissioner of Police, travelled overseas with a brief of “reviewing the methods of combating crime”.
In Norwich, England, he found a Police Boys Club that gave young people an opportunity to overcome some of the disabilities of their tough environment. He later visited Germany and Italy, and then the US, where he reviewed youth movements such as the Police Athletic League.
PCYC New South Wales, St Kilda PCYC, Tasmania PCYC, PCYC Queensland, and Canberra PCYC are state based entities. We share a common vision to empower young people to reach their goals and potentials. Collectively, we operate from hundreds of facilities across Australia as one of the leading youth focused organisations.
Find out more about each state’s history by clicking on the logos below.
