Police in Alice Springs are again supporting the highly successful School Holiday Program.
NT Police's Crime Prevention Unit members, have been supporting school holiday programs since their inception in December 2008. The scheme now has the support of a wide range of community organisations whose members get together to create a schedule of events during the school holidays to provide activities for young people in Alice Springs.
Youth Services Co-ordinator Superintendent Michael White said the scheme was introduced to offer activities for youth during school holidays.
"Prior to each holiday period we schedule a calendar of events in conjunction with other youth-focussed agencies in town to ensure there is no opportunity for kids to be bored over the holiday period," Supt White said.
"The current program involving police will include Ten Pin Bowling sessions at the Dust Bowl, basketball sessions at the basketball stadium, Blue Light Discos and bush trips.
"This is in conjunction with all the other activities hosted by agencies such as the YMCA, Bush Mob, Tangentjere Council, Alice Springs Town Council, Gap Youth Centre and Red Hot Arts."
Supt White said the holiday programs had proven to be extremely popular and well-supported by the young people of the town.
"For instance, when we ran the program over the Christmas holiday period we had more than 2700 kids attending the police-run activities alone."
The mid-year- holiday program kicks off on Monday June 21 and continues until July 18. Police will run a ten-pin bowling session each Monday from 10 - 12pm at the Dust Bowl.
"This will be a ticketed event, which basically means the young person must take part in one of the other events on the calendar to acquire a ticket for the free bowling session. This ensures there is an incentive to have them take part in other activities as well."
Police will also host basketball sessions at the Traeger stadium each Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm. These sessions are also free and supported by the Alice Springs Basketball Association who have given police concession prices for the hire of the courts.
Each Wednesday Police, together with Tangentjere Council and Bush Mob will host bush trips from 9am to 3pm. The first session will teach survival skills, with the subsequent weeks focussing on abseiling, orienteering and bush walking.
Then every Friday night police will host a Blue Light Disco at either the Gap Youth Centre or the Alice Springs Youth Centre from 6pm to 9pm.
Superintendent White said police would also like to thank the Alice Springs Town Council and Centrecorp for assisting with funding for the programs.
Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8951 8825
0419 803 603
