National Citizens Service – 5 Things you ought to know

Are you aged 16-24? Are you bored at home and lacking skills and a social life? Then why not try the National Citizens Service (NCS)? According to the National Citizens Service Chief Delivery Officer, Amanda Best, the NCS is a National Institute designed to teach young people new skills and prepare them for the future, and to give back to the community.

The NCS vision is:

If you are thinking of signing up for the National Citizens Programme, here are 5 things you ought to know.

Who is the NCS programme for?

The NCS programme is a British Institution with a Royal Charter. It is aimed primarily at youth groups, sporting clubs and training organisations for young people. Although you can sign on to an NCS programme as an individual and participate online.

The NCS programme enables young people of all abilities to gain new skills, make friends and serve their local community, including young people with learning disabilities.

What Activities does the NCS offer young people?

1-week residentials – to build young people’s confidence and independence.
1-week project – to encourage young people to develop their skills and interests and to serve the community.
Digital Experiences – A chance to ‘dip your toe’ to see if NCS is for you.
A Year of Service – For Ages 18-24 – One year paid employment opportunity.
Change Makers – Offering opportunities to serve your local community

How much does it cost?

Digital Experience – FREE
Residentials – £95 (bursaries are available)
Community-based Projects – FREE

What skills and experiences will I gain?

During the residentials and other projects, you will gain the following skills and experiences:

Cooking
Budgeting
Cleaning
IT Skills
Communication
Team Work
Outdoor Skills
Caring
Compassion
Understanding of others
Resilience
Problem-Solving
Organisation
And lots more

You can also pick your own projects. If you fancy doing your part for the environment you could join a local volunteer gardening club. Maybe you enjoy playing a musical instrument? You could play it in a local home for the elderly. This will strengthen your confidence. The NCS will support you as you identify skills you would like to develop to prepare you for your future.

If you feel you need to build your resilience before signing onto an NCS project our post How to build resilience for teenagers may help.

How does the NCS programme benefit an ‘only child’?

Alongside developing the life skills mentioned above, ‘only children’ can benefit from the programme by making new friends that could become lifelong friends. You can also expand your contacts. This will help you in the future as you consider your career. For example, maybe you volunteered in a local football club and now you are looking for a career in sports. You will already have someone to provide a reference for you outside school.

In addition, you may work with different people you would never consider working with. The NCS offer mixed teams. You may meet people of a different culture or religion that you have never encountered before. This will broaden your horizons.

Preparing for the Future

The NCS is a great springboard to help you prepare for the future. There are loads of great opportunities for young people to travel, learn and serve others as they reach adulthood. This could include gap years in education, long-time work experience, travelling, or working at a summer camp in America or Europe.

If you add that you have taken part in an NCS project on your Curriculum Vitae (CV), you will have a better chance of bagging a brilliant opportunity in the future. You will be able to explain some of your experiences at interviews to prove that you have gained key life skills, and this will impress your interviewers.

Below are some useful links for future opportunities you may wish to consider. We will also be adding new content about these opportunities in the future to help you make informed decisions on what is the best pathway for you.