This year, over 400 young people came through the Belconnen Youth Centre (BYC), with more than 3,200 attendances across drop-ins, holiday programs and daily activities. 142 joined our school holiday programs, enjoying safe, structured fun four times a year. 

100% of participants first heard about BYC from friends, showing it’s a welcoming, peer-driven space. For many, it’s a “third space” between school and home: a place to relax, share food, play games and find support. 

The impact is clear. In our survey, 71% felt respected by our team, 86% said CRCS meets or exceeds expectations, and 86% told us we help them connect with community. One young person said: “This place is amazing. Can I come back next week with some friends?” A parent added: “She was the most engaged and comfortable I’ve seen her since early primary years.” 

BYC reflects the diversity of our community, with 1 in 4 participants identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 1 in 10 living with disability. At BYC, inclusion and belonging are lived every day. 

Bit Bent and Dungeons & Dragons give young people a place to come together, make friends and build supportive communities. Bit Bent is a weekly social group for LGBTQIA+ young people, offering a safe and welcoming space to connect, express themselves and belong. The program runs two age-specific sessions – one for ages 10 to 17 and another for ages 18 to 25 – to make sure everyone feels comfortable and supported. 

Over the reporting period, there were 619 individual engagements at Bit Bent, reflecting its popularity and importance to local young people. 

Every young person over 18 in Bit Bent told us they first heard about it from a friend. This shows how strongly the program is part of youth culture, where belonging and trust matter most. Word of mouth is more powerful than flyers or posters – it’s the trust between friends that keeps Bit Bent growing. 

Both groups are diverse. A third of Bit Bent participants come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, showing the program is inclusive of young people from migrant and multicultural communities. For many, Bit Bent and Dungeons & Dragons may be the first or only spaces where they feel fully accepted. Places where their culture, identity and voice are respected and celebrated. 

For some young people, real change comes from one-on-one support. Unstable housing, health challenges or financial stress can make it hard to stay in school, keep a job or feel hopeful about the future. 

This year, our youth workers supported 100 young people through individual planned support appointments — listening to their needs, advocating on their behalf, and helping them navigate housing, health and financial systems that can feel overwhelming. Just as importantly, they provided guidance through difficult times and offered steady encouragement and belief in each young person’s potential. 

It’s clear this approach matters: 71% of participants said they trust CRCS to do the right thing by them, and 71% felt their voices were heard in shaping the support they received. These results reflect the strong, respectful relationships our team builds every day and our commitment to ensuring young people have both support and a voice in decisions that affect them. 

Youth services mean different things to different people – a safe Friday night, a driving course, or a pathway through challenges like family conflict or housing stress. 

This year, 42% of participants were aged 18–25, highlighting the importance of support as young people transition out of programs at 25. We’re also working with partners to strengthen referrals and create opportunities in education, employment and community life. 

It’s encouraging that 86% of young people said our services meet or exceed their expectations, showing the value they place on this support. Our goal is simple: to be there when needed, and to help young people build strong foundations for adulthood. 

The CRCS Network Coordinator plays a key role in bridging this transition. For example, by working closely with the Youth Engagement Team to see the Connect Up program – a community-driven initiative that helps people aged from 18 through their 30s in Belconnen and Bruce build meaningful, lasting connections – as a natural next step for young people to continue finding opportunities for connection and belonging as they move into adulthood. 

This service reflects our social impact themes of purpose and wellbeing and choice and control. It provides young people with a safe, trusted place to seek advice about issues that matter to them most – from mental health and relationships to body image, vaping, alcohol, drug use, and general health. Importantly, there are no appointments or referrals required. Young people can simply drop in, ask questions, and take the lead in their own care. 

By embedding the clinic at the Youth Centre – a familiar “third space” where many already come to connect and belong – barriers to accessing health support are reduced. For some, it may be the first time they feel comfortable speaking openly with a professional about their concerns. 

Hosting T25 is another way CRCS is helping young people feel heard, supported and empowered to make informed choices about their lives.