NCS is a once-programme that helps you build your skills for work and life,
National Citizen Service (NCS)
NCS is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open to all 16 & 17 year olds in England and Northern Ireland, that helps you build your skills for work and life, while you take on new challenges and meet new friends. It runs in Spring, Summer and Autumn every year.
NCS is a chance for young people to:
• Take on new challenges and learn new skills
• Make a difference while making new friends
• Grow their confidence and their CV/UCAS personal statement
• Experience something new as you help out your community
• Graduate with a certificate signed by the Prime Minister
Spring NCS with Shrewsbury Town FC Community Trust
Away Residential
Shrewsbury Town FC Community Trust took a group of ten young people away to PGL Winmarleigh Hall in Preston for three nights during the Easter holidays to begin their Spring NCS project. Whilst there, the young people took part in a range of exciting outdoor activities including rock climbing, abseiling, raft building, low ropes, sensory trail, giant swing and many more team building exercises. The activities were designed to challenge the young people, enable them to learn about themselves and their potential and make new friends in the process. A huge part of the residential week was focused on team building, increasing their confidence and pushing their boundaries whilst trying something new.
In the Community
A huge part of the NCS experience is developing skills that will aid young people in further education and employment. Following on from the residential, the young people took part in a series of workshops at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology which gave them the opportunity to put their new found skills into practice. Workshops were delivered by Hope House, Shropshire Young Carers, Victim Support, My Self Defence and Shrewsbury Town Community Trust with the aim of improving young people’s knowledge of their local community.
A highlight of the week was Shrewsbury and Atcham MP, Daniel Kawczynski, attending a Dragon’s Den style workshop alongside Hope House CEO, Andy Goldsmith and Hope House Fundraiser, Lynsey Kilvert who were also on the panel of ‘Dragons’. The young people pitched their social action project idea to the dragons and successfully gained their support and knowledge to help them complete their project.
The group are hoping to put on a fun day event in the square in Shrewsbury to help raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices. The fun day will include a cake sale, tombola, raffle, and much more so keep an eye out for the date which will be confirmed soon!
They are also hoping to collect donations such as cinema tickets or bowling tickets which they can then donate to Shropshire Young Carers so they can send them on a fun day out.
Future NCS Projects
NCS also runs in the summer and autumn. If you are aged 16-17 and would like to make a difference in your local community and meet lots of new people at the same time, please contact Jenny Hannah on 01743 289177 ext 215 or email jenny.hannah@shrewsburytown.co.uk.