Maria met up with young people taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) scheme in Basingstoke recently, to learn about what they have been doing as part of the programme.  She met the teenagers at the AM Football Stadium in Western Way where they were spending the third week of their programe, having already had two week-long visits, including to a residential outdoors activity centre. During this third phase they were designing and planning a community-driven team project, to be carried out the following week. They were going to have tuition from a professional baker, and then make cakes to sell in aid of the children’s hospice Naomi’s House.

Maria said: “The National Citizen Service gives these young people a fantastic opportunity to get involved in new and challenging activities, get new skills for work and life, work together to plan and deliver a project to benefit their community, and to meet new people. From talking to the participants today, it is also clear that they are having a great time and would thoroughly recommend the scheme to friends and family.”

The NCS is a unique Government-backed programme for 16 and 17 years olds, that brings together young people from different backgrounds and through a full-time three week programme (followed by a 30 hour social action project) helps them to develop greater confidence, responsibility, resilience and skills, as well as giving them the experience of volunteering for their local communities.

For more information on the National Citizen Service, see www.ncsyes.co.uk.