National Citizen Service (NCS) programme is for groups of 15-16 year olds, who have left school or who are on their summer holidays before returning to 6^th form.

The programme aims to give young people new experiences, skills and attitudes to improve their confidence and help them become more active and responsible members of their communities. They will carry out a large scale community project in the local area and attend two residential weeks to help plan the project. 

The NCS programme is part of an initiative that has been developed to support the Government’s Big Society.

The programme which lasts 7-8 weeks will involve:

Phase 1: Induction – half-day sessions that give young people and parents/guardians an opportunity to find out more about the programme, and for Young Gloucestershire  to assess whether the young person is right for the programme

Phase 2: Teamwork and outdoor challenge residential – a week of fun activities that develop confidence, trust, teamwork, empowerment and leadership skills

Phase 3: Community skills development residential – a week designed to identify the young people’s strengths and shared interests and to link up with their local community

Phase 4: Designing a social action project – 5 full-time days planning the project

Phase 5: Delivering a social action project – 30 hours spread over 3-4 weeks completing the project in the local community

A celebration event at the end of the programme to which parents and friends will be invited.

*More details on NCS for 2012 will be made available at a later date