The National Citizen Service (NCS) Summer Challenge is open to Year 11 students for a once in a lifetime opportunity. For two to four weeks during the Summer holidays teens will take part in team-building outdoor exercises and learn life skills in this community based project.
Meet Will
Teenagers tend to have a pretty bad reputation for being lazy, disrespectful louts but as per usual this is the minority affecting the reputation for the majority. Our ‘teen’ Will is 16 years old and a lovely young man. Yes he isn’t keen on dragging himself out of bed in a morning but then neither am I, he does have a major obsession with anything with a screen but if you can get him away from said screens and out into the fresh air, he comes alive and is a pleasure to be around. I have been Will’s stepmum since he was three years old and so have watched him grow from a cute curly hair cheeky chap into a young man who has overcome various hurdles with a strong sense of character. He is an amazing big brother to his five younger siblings and is certainly someone they all look up to. Over the coming weeks Will begins his GCSE exams and has been studying hard for the best possible outcome, the Summer holidays cannot come soon enough for him and his peers.
A Summer to remember with NCS
Since 2011 almost 400,000 young people have taken part in the NCS challenge, a government supported project which aims to help build a more engaged and mobile society which is not only accepting of others but wants to include them. The NCS brings together teens from all backgrounds for a shared summer activity program of fun and learning. Open to Year 11 teens aged 16 and 17 throughout England and Northern Ireland the NCS programme lasts between 2 and 4 weeks during the Summer holidays. It includes outdoor team-building tasks aimed at pushing the young adults out of their comfort zones. The residential guests are given a chance to learn valuable ‘life skills’ and then to take part in a community based social action project and culminates in a celebration event to bring the programme to a close.
As the programme progresses the teens will be encouraged to take on more responsibility to test their leadership skills and teach them valuable lessons they will need for the workplace.
To date:
- more than seven million hours of community action have been completed
- for every £1 spent, the NCS’ 2016 programme delivered between £1.15 and £2.42 of benefits back to society.
Important points to note
- When I first heard about the NCS I imagined that it was going to cost an arm and a leg like school trips tend to but was pleasantly surprised to discover the price is just £50 including food, accommodation and travel. There are bursaries available on a case by case basis and support is provided for those young people with additional needs.
- The programme runs for the entire Summer holidays so don’t be put off thinking that you might not be able to fit it with other family commitments. If you register your interest for further information and make them aware of your family commitments and holiday plans the team will do their very best to work out a slot on the programme at a time that suits you and your teen.
Register your interest now
There are still places available for Year 11s to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity this summer. To sign up now, go to the NCS website.