Basingstoke MP Maria Miller called in at Hatch Warren Community Centre to see how a pilot for the new National Citizen Service is shaping up.
The National Citizen Service is a new summer project for 16 years that has been launched this year, with pilot programmes running across the country. The aim is to give young people an introduction to community action and volunteering, as well as helping them to acquire life skills as well as practical skills.
Basingstoke MP Maria Miller called in at Hatch Warren Community Centre to see how a pilot for the new National Citizen Service is shaping up.
The National Citizen Service is a new summer project for 16 years that has been launched this year, with pilot programmes running across the country. The aim is to give young people an introduction to community action and volunteering, as well as helping them to acquire life skills as well as practical skills.
A group of Hampshire young people, including a number from Basingstoke, have been taking part in an intensive and action-packed programme, organised and delivered by a team from Hampshire Youth Options, part of the Catch 22 NCS Partnership. Maria was able to meet the young people and hear from them about what they have been doing over the first three weeks of the programme, including two residential phases away from home.
Maria said: “It was clear that the young people I spoke to had really enjoyed the programme and felt that they have benefited greatly from it. They said that they thought it would help prepare them as they move forward into further education and jobs.”
Maria added: “It was really good to hear from the young people about their views on this new programme, and what they thought they had learned from it. It was also helpful to talk to the organisers, and get their feedback too. Clearly, the point of running a pilot programme is to build on what we learn from the experiences, and shape a great National Citizen Service that will benefit all our young people.”