National Citizen Service Annual Report and Accounts 2018/2019
National Citizen Service Trust Annual Report and Accounts for Financial Year 2018/2019
Applies to England
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This report covers the activities carried out by the National Citizen Service Trust in implementing the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme in England in Financial Year 2018/2019. It also includes the organisation’s accounts audited by the National Audit Office.
In 2011, 8,000 participants took part in NCS. In the 2018/19 financial year, around 100,000 people took part, and we plan to keep growing participation. To date over 500,000 young people have chosen to do NCS.
Operating across England and Northern Ireland, NCS works with 16 to 17 year-olds from a range of different backgrounds at a pivotal point in their lives in order to improve social mobility, social cohesion and social engagement.
The Trust is working hard to ensure NCS becomes a rite of passage that is a normal part of growing up, helping to equip and empower generations of young people. This is achieved by bringing young people together in a shared experience for two or four weeks to design and deliver their own community action projects – building their confidence in what they can achieve, developing their character and bridging social divides. By offering young people an innovative and engaging shared experience, NCS helps them to become better individuals and, in turn, better citizens.
The NCS programme is a unique chance for teenagers to live away from home, develop key life skills and interact with other young people from different backgrounds. NCS is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which means no one is prevented from taking part for financial reasons. Our programmes take place outside of term time; the summer programme takes three to four weeks to complete, with a shorter version taking place in the autumn. The programme is delivered by a family of over 100 grassroots organisations, each with unique local expertise and a passion for inspiring young people.
NCS participants experience a range of outdoor activities, learn new skills (from teamwork, leadership and public speaking to basic cooking and budgeting) and meet with local charities and entrepreneurs. They then commit 30 hours to a social action project, which they themselves deliver and promote – empowering them to make a real change in their local communities, while fostering a sense of social responsibility for the future.
Longer term, NCS graduates have exclusive access to a wealth of work and volunteering opportunities across the country. Following graduation, former participants can also continue to make their mark within the organisation through our Regional Youth board, Leaders Programme and National Youth board – ensuring that young peoples’ voices remain at the heart of the decisions we make.