Over 500 teenagers from Newcastle upon Tyne have already said yes to a once-in-a-lifetime experience this summer by signing up for National Citizen Service (NCS).
This summer NCS is giving young people aged 15-17* the chance to spend two weeks living away from home before creating their own projects that make a difference to their local communities.
With departure dates available in July and August, they’ll firstly spend a week with new friends taking part in adrenalin-fuelled activities like zip-wiring and kayaking at an outdoor adventure centre.
Next up, they’ll be staying somewhere closer to home for another week gaining vital skills that set them apart and make for great CVs and UCAS applications, as well as life skills such as cooking and personal finance.
They then put their skills to good use by working together in teams to organise a project that makes a real difference to their community.
Chi said she “benefitted hugely from school trips to the Lake District and Northumberland as a child in Newcastle”, and hopes “a new generation can enjoy similar experiences with NCS.”
At this year’s NCS YES LIVE music and awards show, a group of young people from Newcastle and Northumberland won the NCS Social Action Stars award. The group’s project, which raised awareness of LGBT issues in the area and fundraised for the Albert Kennedy Trust, was chosen from the thousands of social action projects from right across the country that took part in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JOQCFDl0_0
Jack Lennie, NCS recruitment coordinator for Newcastle upon Tyne, says: “It’s not too late to get involved in NCS; teenagers or their parents should get in touch with us to book their place.”
NCS is great value for money because it is government-backed. The whole experience will cost no more than £50, although this could be £10 or less depending on circumstances, including accommodation, transport, food, activities and training; everything.
To find out more about NCS and to book a place, call 0191 247 4020 or visit NCSNorthEast.co.uk.
*To take part, young people must be 16-17 by end of August.