National Citizen Service

National Citizen Service (NCS)

The National Citizen Service (abbreviated to NCS) is a British voluntary personal and social development programme for 15–17 year olds in England and Northern Ireland.[1] It was announced in May 2010 by Prime Minister The Right Honourable David Cameron as part of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government's Big Society initiative, and was piloted in 2011. After the United Kingdom general election, 2015, the programme was continued. In October 2016, Cameron became chairman of the NCS Patrons.[2]

Description

The scheme takes place in the spring, summer or autumn coinciding with school holidays. Groups of teenagers undertake a week-long residential visit to an activity centre for an Outward Bound-style course in the countryside involving physical and team-building activities. After this volunteers undertake a residential week, gaining a taste of independent living and learning a variety of skills for their future. On the Third week, planning is done for the community project. Finally participants undertake a series of day trips at home and create a community-based project to raise awareness of a particular issue. Those completing the course receive a certificate at a graduation ceremony. This Certificate is signed by the Incumbent Prime Minister at the time of graduation. In October 2016 it is The Right Honourable Theresa May MP.

If NCS is done in The October half term, the time spent on each activity is lessened to fit the entire programme in a week.

From 2013 onwards volunteers have paid £50 each to take part in the scheme,[3] although there are bursaries for those from low-income homes. The expenditure on the scheme in 2012 was estimated at about £1,400 per individual and the scheme received almost half the Office for Civil Society’s total budget in 2013. The numbers who took part in the scheme were 26,000 (2012), 40,000 (2013), 57,000 (2014) and 75,000 (2015).[4]

The programme was designed and piloted in 2009 by social integration charity, The Challenge, who remain the largest provider of the programme.[5] When the scheme was launched it was initially criticised, with critics expecting it to be an unpopular and unsuccessful non-military version of national service. Subsequently, however, it achieved cross-party support in Parliament.[4]

In the 2016 Queen's Speech, it was announced that the scheme would be permanent through National Citizen Service Bill[6] which once enacted will see statutory framework for the programme put in place, as part of a £1.2 billion investment. The bill was introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Ashton of Hyde in October 2016.[7]

Delivery

The scheme is delivered through a number of Regional Delivery Partners (RDPs) and Local Delivery Partners (LDPs). The following organisations have been selected as RDPs for 2015–18:[8]

A supply chain of over 200 organisations is involved in delivering the NCS. Each RDP is responsible for its team of LDPs and their delivery.

In Wales

A pilot scheme began in Wales in 2014 and a report on the Welsh pilot (examining whether it duplicates or complements existing schemes) has been commissioned. David Cameron has urged the Welsh Government to consider taking up the scheme and offering it across Wales.[9]

These plans however are on hold following the trial provider, Engage4Life closing due to severe financial difficulties.

References

  1. ↑ "AboutNCS | NCS". Ncsyes.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Fiona (12 October 2016). "David Cameron reveals next job after quitting politics". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Jane Merrick (2013-09-01). "Teenage volunteers show true grit at the National Citizen Service". The Independent. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  4. 1 2 Theo Merz (30 Apr 2014). "National Citizen Service: training the citizens of tomorrow". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Our Story". The Challenge. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "National Citizen Service to have permanent statutory status". CivilSociety.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "National Citizen Service Bill [HL] 2016-17". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  8. ↑ 'National Citizen Service' House of Commons Briefing Paper Number 6364, 20 May 20
  9. ↑ "David Cameron praises National Citizen Service on Wales visit". Wales: BBC News. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

External links

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