For nearly 40 years, Albury Police Citizens Youth Club has offered programs out of its building on the corner of Keene and Andrews Streets.

But there is space, literally, to increase its use and also develop more public awareness about a facility many might pass by, yet not fully appreciate.

To help build its profile, Albury PCYC will hold an open day on Saturday between 9am and 3pm, where visitors can enjoy a free barbecue and find out more about what’s available.

“We just really want to make sure that people are aware of who we are and where we are,” manager Di Ovens said.

PCYC NSW comprises more than 60 clubs and centres across the state and more than 85,000 members.

The not for profit organisation aims to get young people active in life, developing their skills, character and leadership and reducing and preventing crime by, and against, young people.

In all the clubs, NSW police officers case-manage young offenders and young people at risk, helping them find new interests.

Albury PCYC began in August 1978 primarily focusing on boys but, as advisory committee president Stephen Chaffey explains, its service “has needed to evolve as the community has changed”.

“To some extent they’ve got to draw on their great history but also look to the future and that requires a lot of change and it’s probably in a position now where change needs to happen,” he said.

Mr Chaffey said the building offered fantastic opportunities for both individual participants and groups looking to run programs.

“It’s located right in the middle of Albury’s major sporting hub, you’ve got ovals across the road, you’ve got plenty of space, tennis courts, so it’s quite well located and the facility is really, to some extent, under-utilised,” he said.

Present activities include the Safer Drivers course and a traffic offender intervention program as well as boxing for juniors and seniors, judo, karate and futsal.

There is a fully equipped gym, which could also be an option for personal trainers, vacation care, archery, dance classes, roller derby and the Ready Steady Go program for children of preschool age.

Mrs Ovens said PCYC aimed to keep costs affordable and was exploring cross-border initiatives.

Mr Chaffey said optimising the facility’s use remained a key goal.

“It needs to be supported by the community in order to continue the good work that it does,” he said.

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