Issue - meetings

Aiden Stonehouse will attend the meeting to explain what the NCS is and what it has to offer the Youth Cabinet Members.

 Aiden Stonehouse, representing the National Citizenship Service attended the meeting to explain what the NCS is and what it has to offer Youth Cabinet members.

It was explained that the NCS is a government backed programme for 15 – 17 year olds which brings people together over the summer.

The first week is an outward bounds week at an outdoor activity centre where the young people will meet. There will be groups of 12 – 15 young people in each group who also live together in the outdoor activity centre. The activities include archery, rock climbing, hiking and canoeing and are aimed at promoting teamwork and providing a challenge in a fun, adrenaline fuelled setting.

The second week is a residential in university style accommodation where the young people will have to look after themselves whilst learning and developing new skills as well as life skills. There will be the opportunity to meet with important people from the local community who will help to develop talents and help to find new ones. The skills learnt will include leadership, teamwork and communication and also a range of other opportunities such as photography, football coaching, first aid or how to set up your own business.

Weeks three and four are when the skills learnt in the previous weeks are put to use and the groups put together their own social action project with support from local community partners.

At the end of the four weeks is the graduation which brings the young people into the NCS family. Membership gives exclusive access to volunteering opportunities and apprenticeships as well as discounts to big events.

Completing NCS is a good addition to a CV and is recognised by UCAS.

It was explained that there were 330 available places in Bury and the cost to participate was £50 per person for the whole experience with the rest of the costs being funded by the Government.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and the following points were raised:-

·         How do young people sign up for the experience.

It was explained that there was a website where you could sign up to participate and the NCS would be visiting schools to help young people sign up.

·         How is the NCS different from the Duke of Edinburgh award or the Prince’s Trust.

It was explained that they were similar in offering support and opportunities to young people but were not directly linked. The NCS looked at developing skills to help young people become more confident and to improve their social actions.

It was agreed:

That Aiden be thanked for his presentation.