The Bathurst Panthers duo have both taken on the position of program coordinator with the non-for-profit that helps and supports disengaged and disadvantaged youth in Bathurst.

It was originally co-funded by Adam DeMamiel, Richard Leahy and Tim Sanson and has a number of branches across regional Australia, including western NSW, southern NSW and north east Victoria.

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Former St Pat's premiership winning coach Kurt Hancock given the responsibility of heading up the western NSW branch.

The organisation has seen massive growth in the Central West region in 12 months and Jake Betts, the current coach of the Panthers' first grade side, said he's grateful to be involved in such a great organisation.

"I'm very grateful. I'm very happy to be involved," he said.

"It's really great to be able to build a relationship with the kids, to see where they are at the program and then see where they are at the end of it."

Before joining the Boys to the Bush team full-time, Betts was working on the railway and was previously a builder before he begun doing part-time with the youth organisation.

He said it's an important program to be involved with.

"I've just been working with the disengaged kids, trying to build a positive role model for these young men who might not have someone like this," he said.

"We just take them out doing stuff like fishing, engaging with the community and building a positive relationship with them."

Betts was originally approached by Hancock about getting involved with the program and he was keen to get involved.

"Kurt gave me a call and gave me run down on it," he said.

"It was something I was really interested in. I started off in a casual basis and I was lucky enough to go full-time."

Betts said he he'll sit down and help boys achieve certain goals or targets.

"We will sit down at the start of the program and talk about some of the outcomes they want to achieve from it," he said.

"We'll sort of work in with them. Whether that's get some work experience for them, meet positives in the community or people involved with that sort of stuff."

The Boys to the Bush program recently benefited from a $12,000 grant from the NSW Government, which will help the organisation continue delivering a range of services more efficiently.

For more information on Boys to the Bush program, visit its website at www.boystothebush.org.au.

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