Just under 100 15 to 17-year-olds from the Isle of Wight joined UKSA, for skills and activities training as part of the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme throughout the summer holidays.
UKSA deliver the NCS programme on the Island in partnership with The English Football League Trust. This government subsidised, national programme allows young people to take part in adrenaline-fuelled activities whilst developing leadership and teamwork skills.
As part of the experience participants learned important life skills such as budgeting and first aid whilst experiencing a taste of independent living. The young people also worked together to create their own social action project using the skills developed on the programme. The students chose to help Ventnor Skate Park; The Wave at Medina College; Earl Mountbatten Hospice; Aspire in Ryde and the YMCA in Shanklin.
One of the programmes participants Alice Snow explained:
“This has been the most incredible summer. I had so much fun, tried something new every day and met new people who I can’t wait to meet up with again.
“One of my highlights was creating our social action project which involved creating a bereavement garden in memory of a teacher at the school. It was amazing to be able to see the project through and realise the huge difference we can make if we put our minds to it – the sense of achievement at the end when we completed the garden was something I’d never experienced before and it really bonded the group. I’d definitely encourage other young people to give it a go.”
Prior to embarking on their social action project, the 98 young people spent a week at an outdoor activity centre in Dorset. This week-long residential is the first activity that the young people take part in as part of the NCS programme, it is the perfect opportunity make new friends and bond in their groups through a range of team-building activities, such as Coasteering and Bush craft. They also went camping locally where they were responsible for provisioning and cooking for themselves.
The teams were visited by the likes of the Rugby Football Union; Island Recovery Integrated Services; Scouts; Age Concern and the Royal Yacht Squadron who taught them new skills, explored opportunities available to them and discussed how the power of young people can make a real impact on the community.
Programme co-ordinator Lauren Lawson commented:
“The young people’s projects were amazing and inspirational on this summer’s programmes; they demonstrated a huge amount of passion and determination to support their local community and made a real difference. Together the young people raised over £3000 across all the projects.
“We are also very thankful to the local businesses that provided raffle donations to our young people over the summer. Without the local support received we would not have raised as much as we did”.
NCS runs across the Isle of Wight during the summer and autumn school holidays and costs no more than £50, which covers the entire experience from food and accommodation to activities and travel, with bursaries available on a case-by-case basis.
Many of the 2016 graduates will be returning to UKSA as NCS Ambassadors and Young Leaders on forthcoming programmes, some have even enrolled on full-time education courses at UKSA.
Applications are open for the Autumn 2016 and Summer 2017 programmes. NCS Co-ordinator at UKSA, Jade Beasley, will be visiting Isle of Wight Schools and Colleges to talk to 15 to 17-year-olds about this adventure and the benefits of taking part.
If you would like to sign up you can contact Jade on [email protected], by calling 01983 203045 or by visiting uksa.org/youth-development/ncs-national-citizen-service.
