National Police Youth Club seeks to grow membership

While the police youth club (PYC) movement once boasted more than 500 active clubs, the pandemic, among other factors, caused many to become dormant, leaving approximately 119 currently active.

But the national PYC council has embarked on a mission of resensitisation and engagement through community outreach, club activities, and national involvement, seeking to bolster numbers. Ricardo Fairman, the national president of the PYC, identifies the quiz initiative as a vital element in the organisation's revival.

"The competition started way back since the inception of the police youth club movement. We have seen where the competition has groomed our youth tremendously, whether in personal or professional development," he said confidently. Fairman underscored the unity that this competition fosters among PYC members.

"Persons have had the opportunity to work better in teams [being quizzed] about different topics and general knowledge, so it is learning on a broad scope," he said.

The first PYC was established in 1954 by Basil Ferguson and Corporal Everald Matthews in Sandy Bay, Hanover. The inspiration for this initiative arose when Matthews successfully mediated a dispute, highlighting the potential for resolving conflicts through community-based efforts. As more individuals express interest in joining the PYC movement and participating in the quiz competition, Fairman envisions a future where the movement grows significantly.

"In the next five years, it's going to be bigger and better where we will have more clubs participating and more people will benefit from the learning extensively in different subject areas," he told THE STAR.

Sergeant Ricardo McCalpin, national coordinator for the PYC, believes that the organisation has always maintained its activity levels, even during the challenging COVID-19 period. He stressed the importance of aligning national goals with activities at the club level. Notable national activities, such as summer camps and quizzes, have played a pivotal role in keeping members engaged and motivated. McCalpin anticipates that 2024 will witness the establishment of more clubs. Additionally, he noted the establishment of a new PYC at the Shortwood Teachers' College in St Andrew, expanding the organisation's reach.

"The club members are given skills training and certification that allows them to be valuable members of society, "They are taught soft skills like conflict resolution, time management and other skills that are necessary to be law-abiding and sociable citizens," he said.

The national PYC plans to conduct training programmes islandwide, allowing coordinators to develop and monitor their work plans, thus facilitating the movement's growth.