Canberra PCYC was celebrating this week with the unveiling of the Cruisin' Cafe, a cafe on wheels, but also a mobile training van for disadvantaged youth to get their hospitality and barista qualifications.

The Snow Foundation provided the grant to purchase the purpose-built vehicle which was unveiled by Canberra PCYC patron Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda at Brindabella Business Park on Wednesday.

The cafe will be cruising Canberra streets and available for bookings for events, with all income generated going back into what becomes an important social enterprise for the PCYC.

It's some welcome good news for the Canberra PCYC which was on its knees financially earlier this year due to COVID-19 shutdowns, funding cuts and falls in donations.

Governor-General Hurley and Mrs Hurley have been strong, involved supporters of the work of the PCYC.

"Life cannot be kind to some people through no fault of their own, and it is organisations like PCYC, that don't judge but reach out and help young people," he said, at this week's launch.

"This is just another enormous opportunity for these youngsters to learn."

Canberra PCYC works with more than 650 young people and families each year. They know each young person learns in a different way and some struggle with being in mainstream education due to other issues, including mental health, peer pressures, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

Canberra PCYC CEO Cheryl O'Donnell said young people of working age would get training, but also a sense of purpose, through the van.

"Most who go through it will be young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who don't receive a lot of opportunity," she said.

"Once it's up and going there may be a second group go through, such as women who've had to leave violent relationships and haven't been able to get back into the workforce. We'll run a separate program for them so they get training, they get experience and they are linked to the employment service, who then works with potential employers to get them into paid positions."

She said the support had been overwhelming.

"It's great to see that so many people share our vision, which is for these young people to have a positive future with employment and for them to feel good about themselves," she said.

Some of the young people helped with the catering of the launch event on Wednesday.

"You could see the glow on these kids' faces that so many people cared about what was going on for them," Ms O'Donnell said.

The Cruisin' Cafe had been a true collaboration with many organisations putting their hand up to get involved.

"I'd like to thank The Snow Foundation who provided the grant to purchase the purpose-built vehicle; Food Trailer King who upgraded the van to a supersize model at no extra cost, Cosmorex Coffee for providing the coffee machine and coffee supply, College of Transformation Education & Training for the training program in Certificates in Hospitality and Barista, Salvation Army Employment plus - who will work with potential employers to place young people into traineeships and Boorer Foundation and Hands Across Canberra for providing funding towards the staff start-up wage," she said.

"We are so proud and could not have done this without all your help".

The Snow Foundation director Stephen Byron said it was great to help young people reach their potential through a unique pathway.

"This is a great example of how we can help fill the gaps with a one-off grant, to help grassroots entrepreneurial initiatives like this get off the ground," he said.