“As we close in on Summer 2018 and our biggest year of NCS delivery so far, I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my favourite NCS moments from my last 4 years on the programme. There are so many to choose from but here are some of the highlights:

“Pedal Power – My team during Summer 2016 chose to raise funds to buy equipment for local art therapy charity, Art Shape. They did a sponsored cycle on static bikes on Eastgate Street in Gloucester, cycling over 800 miles. The sun was shining, the group were energetic and the public were really happy to contribute to such a worthy cause. The only downside was the slightly sore bums! That event, combined with an afternoon tea, raised over £1000!

“Fashion Police – Another moment from 2016, this time during Week two. We were on residential in the Forest of Dean and on our last night, we were having a BBQ and campfire. During the day, the young people had taken part in a session about positive body image. One of the members of staff was teasing another member of staff about her clothes (she was wearing sports leggings, long white socks pulled all the way up and a bright yellow t-shirt so…understandable J). She pulled her onto a log and got the young people to comment on the outfit, to which they responded “she can wear what she wants” and “why does it matter?” – it was a fab demonstration of them using some of the messages we had tried to share in a real world situation. Plus, BBQ food and marshmallows!

“Word of the Day – During week one, there can be some tough moments as the group get to know each other. The group I had in 2015 were amazing and got comfortable with each other so quickly. I am a bit of a word-nerd (or bibliophile… wink wink) and they loved some of the words I used so we started a “word of day” session. I remember fondly sitting in the sunshine with them, sharing my favourite words such as “defenestrate”, “obsequious”, “susurrus” and “mizzle” and challenging them to use them in conversation with me that day.

“Nowhere I would rather be – back in Summer 2014, my NCS team and I were on residential in beautiful Pembrokeshire. The sun was shining and it was time for the canoeing challenge! We jumped into our canoes and started paddling, at times struggling to go in a straight line. Just as we paddled under the striking Cleddau Bridge, a spontaneous sing along began, starting with Clean Bandit’s Rather Be. For those of you who don’t know it, one of the lyrics is “We’re a thousand miles from comfort, we have travelled land and sea, but as long as you are with me, there’s no place I’d rather be” – fairly fitting considering the ethos of NCS and building teams from groups of strangers.

“There you go, just a couple of my favourite moments. Hard to choose just a few, having worked with so many amazing young people over the last few weeks but I cannot wait to see more memories being made with over 1000 young people this summer.”

It’s not too late to sign up and join us for summer 2018 – hurry and grab one of our few remaining places.

“Addiction is a topic which I’m sure the majority of us have some idea of, however it is an issue that is forever increasing and an issue that needs to be addressed. When we think about addiction the first thing that probably comes to our minds is addiction to drugs and alcohol, however we can become addicted to anything; food, the gym or caffeine!

“Addiction often has a big stigma around it and some people can be fearful of admitting to having an addiction. However we need to try and put our heads together and stop this negative attitude!

“My role at YG is about helping people overcome addictions with drug and alcohol use and encourage young people to get involved with positive activities. I love my job and enjoy enabling young people to meet their goals.

“One person dies every ten seconds worldwide due to excessive alcohol use. We need to try and tackle this massive issue together and ensure that young people get the right support so they can achieve a great future!”

If you want to talk to Megan about the support she can offer get in touch.

“I’m Tamsin and I am one of the Engagement Workers on NCS. I have been working for NCS since April 2017. Summer number one was incredible! I was blessed with a lovely team who worked really hard over the summer and managed to raise £1,300 for a local charity. As well as delivering my own team I got the privilege of meeting the rest of the young people joining other teams as the departed for their residential and again when they returned. It was great to see how those nervous faces on day one had changed to lifelong friendships by the end of the programme.

“My job at the moment entails visiting schools and meeting the NCS graduates from last year and catching up on what they’ve been up and everything they’ve managed to achieve. It makes me so excited for a new group of young people to have the summer of their lives this year. I can’t wait for my summer number two and I am looking forward to meeting all the young people we’ve got signed up.”

It’s not too late to join us this Summer and work for YG – take a look at our seasonal vacancies.

“It’s finally 2018! And the question is, what am I looking forward to the most? Well, I am looking forward to smashing summer 18’ with the NCS team! 2018 has only just begun and we have already nearly reached our target signups. If this isn’t the most amazing achievement, I don’t know what is. I am incredibly lucky to have scored my dream job with the most amazing charity and work alongside the most incredible team. I am 4/5 months into this job and I love it more each day. They do say, choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. The support, the encouragement, the praise and the team work from Young Gloucestershire is truly amazing.

“Not only did I score this incredible job, I also achieved something I thought was impossible. I passed my driving test! Anyone who knows me would know how much anxiety driving causes me and that I had convinced myself that I was just not born to drive. Well, it turns out it was not impossible and that I was born to drive because in of January I heard the words “I am pleased to tell you that you’ve passed.” Just goes to show, that what you want won’t always come easy, but if you work hard and don’t give up you will get there. Ok, so good luck comes in three’s right? It sure does. In just over two weeks I will be moving into my first home with my partner. I can actually say that at “21” I own a house. How incredible (and grown up) is that? Well I couldn’t be more excited. I am the happiest I’ve been in years.

“For once I can say, life is going my way.”

It’s great to hear YG staff so happy. If you fancy joining the team we have a number of vacancies available at the moment. Check out our jobs page.

“2017 has been a huge year of challenge for me, both personally and professionally. Aside from getting used to pound coins not being round anymore and The Bake Off being on Channel 4, the latest significant challenge for me is my change in role at YG, from being a Prince’s Trust Team Leader to being the NCS Recruitment Coordinator.

“My new role is focused on making sure my team of Engagement Workers are going into schools to promote the programme to eligible young people. We have 43 mainstream schools on our caseload, in addition to local SEN schools, alternate provisions and pupil referral units, so spend our days meeting hundreds of teenagers.

“NCS has been running for around five years now locally, so is starting to gain an amazing reputation for making a difference to the local community and the young people who take part. A lot of the young people who have signed up this year are younger siblings of previous NCS graduates, which shows what an amazing experience it is for those who take part.

“The move has meant joining a new team within YG and learning a lot of new processes, but my first 2 months have been invigorating. We have sent out four teams on a shorter Autumn programme and have over 500 young people already signed up for the full length summer programme.

“I cannot wait to see how the rest of the year plays out!”

“Hi my name is Emily, I have been in post as Senior Administrator/PA to Tracy the CEO of Young Gloucestershire since September.

“Before coming to YG I was working in London as a Mortgage Administrator. After 3 years of living in London, I decided to move back to Gloucester to be closer to friends and family and was lucky enough to find this role with YG.

“In my first few weeks at YG I have been shadowing in all areas of the organisation. The job means I need to have a good understanding of the whole organisation and how it works so I can help Tracy fulfil her role. It has been interesting seeing how the charity works and in particular, I have enjoyed seeing the relationships between staff and the young people. I have seen how genuine the relationships are and how the charity is working to change lives. It is inspiring to see young people overcome the challenges in their lives and it feels great to be a part of that.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into my new role at YG, I will be helping Tracy to manage her diary, managing facilities contracts, taking minutes, writing letters and ensuring the office runs smoothly. So far, the YG team have been really welcoming and I am looking forward to helping them and Tracy with the important work they are doing.”

“Last year I completed my Degree in Youth Work with my dissertation focusing on the best ways to challenge Child Sexual Exploitation. This in-depth piece of research and work has left me with strong views on the best way to reduce CSE. So when I had the opportunity to go along with our CEO Tracy Clark, to Gloucestershire’s Safeguarding Children’s Board annual Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Conference last week, I was incredibly interested to hear how Gloucestershire was moving forward. Whilst the conference had a variety of quality speakers and informative presentations, we came away frustrated.

“As part of my Youth Work degree I carried out an independent research study into the current thoughts on CSE and its an area I am passionate about.  I feel very strongly that both the Youth Work profession and the voluntary sector in which YG sits can make a real positive difference to the way in which CSE is tackled.

“What struck me during the conference was that there was no representation at all from the voluntary sector. Nor were they referred to very often. Which in view of the research I have carried out is at odds with the suggested best ways to approach the issue.

“There is a wealth of evidence (1) suggesting that the most effective way of engaging with young people, who are at risk or already involved in CSE, is to take an informal person centred approach, gaining trust and building a relationship with a young person. Which is the basis of youth work.  It is suggested (2) that interventions that attempt to rescue, act only at an individual level and do not take into account underpinning or constraining factors that have led to the young person being in that situation. This concerns me as the conference largely focused on this approach.

“Research literature continually makes references to the skills needed to effectively work with young people at risk of CSE and the way this work should look and be underpinned. The most effective strategies all describe the practice of youth work. So as a youth worker and from a youth work organisation it was frustrating to hear Gloucestershire championing a ‘rescue based’ based approach, despite research showing us its limitations.

“It is estimated that 16,500 children and young people are at risk of CSE across the country and the figures are continuing to rise. Recent research carried out by the NSPCC (3) suggests an average of more than 10,000 new victims of contact sexual abuse in the UK every year. Having said that, it is suggested that quantifying the problem of CSE is extremely difficult. Due to its coercive and manipulative nature, victims often don’t recognise themselves as victims or feel unable to reach out for support and speak up when reporting” and prosecuting the crimes. The result of which means sadly and worryingly the true picture of CSE is unknown.

“Its suggested (4) that government spending in relation to CSE has predominately been spent on the establishment and maintenance of Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards which pick up CSE at a stage once it has been identified. However, research (5) is shows that preventative measures by on the ground workers could pick up concerns sooner and prevent the CSE starting in the first place. I question then, why money is not invested in the work at an earlier stage.

“There are a wide range of specialist, voluntary and community agencies and groups who are well placed to identify children who are at risk, or are experiencing abuse.  The research (6) and our own experience here at YG tells us that the voluntary sector is best placed to provide the intensive long term work required to build relationships with a young person, help them recognise their own exploitation, escape and recover.

“At YG we are we are working to help funding commissioners understand what is possible with a change in approach. We want them to see the research, recognise the recommendations it makes and consider the key role the voluntary sector should be playing in preventing CSE.

“Together Tracy and I are seeking out opportunities to explore this matter with decision makers. I will also be attending the NSPCC National CSE Conference in London next month, armed and ready to network with my research in hand. YG believe in the difference that not only our organisation can make but also others within the sector. We will therefore, continue to wave the flag and bang the drum for a more proactive solution to CSE

Watch this space…..”

1-(Jay, 2014, Holger-Ambrose et al. 2013, Hayes and Unwin, 2016, Lebloch and King, 2006, Puffett, 2016 and Dodsworth, 2014)

2-Melrose (2013)

3- NSPCC (Saied-Tessier, 2014)

4-(Debates in the House of Lords, 2016)

5-(Barnardo’s, 2014, CEOP, 2013 and Gov.UK, 2015)

6- Carrie (2011 in Pemberton, 2011)

“My normal job role with YG is as an Administrator, but for the last two years, each Summer I have made the move to NCS Assistant Programme Leader … and I loved it. For this year, I was on NCS Team seven – Thor. I am always nervous on the run up to NCS but from day one the young people were amazing and I am so proud of what they’ve achieved.

“Week one was going to a residential centre and the young people undertook challenging activities such as caving, building and sailing a coracle (small, round boat), zip wiring, hiking and lots more. We also did a NCS Olympics and our team won.

“The second week was also spent on residential but in a different location and the week focused on getting the group ready for the next steps in their lives. We did sessions on body image, sexual health, money skills etc and received talks from local charities that we could choose to support. At night we did bubble football, had water fights, watched movies and hosted our own NCS’s Got Talent.

“Week’s three and four was all about deciding on a charity to support and starting to raise money for them and finding a way that we could do something positive with them. My team chose Teens in Crisis, a charity that supports young people with issues such as depression, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, anger, relationship problems, low self-esteem and self-harm. One young person had personal experience with Teens in Crisis so thought it would be great to support them.

“The young people decided to produce a video aimed at young males, because the majority of young males doesn’t access Teens in Crisis but the need is massive and the suicide rate for males is more than females. So, we scripted, rehearsed, videoed, edited and finally produced the video. The CEO of Teens in Crisis actually cried at the video and said it was amazing. We also did a pub quiz, which raised £200 in 2 hours, which was amazing.

“In just four weeks I watched the young people grow in confidence, improve their communication skills and increase their self-esteem. I am so proud of NCS Team seven – Thor, and watching them graduate was a final celebration of all they achieved this summer. NCS gave both them and myself a wonderful experience in which we learnt a lot about ourselves and managed to help others – what better way to spend our summer – bring on next year I say!”

Story and picture taken from Gloucestershire Live 3.8.17

It’s a good thing it’s summer because five young people from the National Citizen Service in Gloucester are walking round with rather cold heads this week.

Billy Green, Ed Thomas, James Hughes and Archie Owlett, all 16, and Brandon Hutchinson, 20, braved the shave for the NCS, a government-run programme for 16 to 17-year-olds.

It comprises a four week program, the first two weeks focused on team-building residential, whilst the final two go towards a social action project. There are hundreds of teams across the country participating in NCS.

One team, based at Young Gloucestershire, is fundraising for the Hop, Skip and Jump Centre in Cheltenham, which provides opportunities for children with disabilities.

To fundraise, they held both a tombola and sponsored head shaving in Gloucester city centre on July 26. They hope to raise enough money to buy the centre a new peddle go-kart and replace the fence, ensuring the safety of the children.

The team thanked the Tesco branches of Longlevens for their generous donations, and The Pride: Hairdressing and Barber shop for volunteering their services and assisting with the head shaving.