Be epic; Live life; Do good. Not bad as a motto, but perhaps even more inspiring when you learn that it’s the structure of the NCS programme. Aimed primarily at Year 11s for the summer they leave school (and Year 12s who haven’t already done it), the 2-to-4-week programme is designed to build confidence, explore new opportunities and make new friends. It comes in three phases. Phase One: Be epic. The first part of the programme involves a one-week residential experience, typically staying in activity centres. The focus is on challenging yourself, so you will get to try a range of adventurous activities you may not have done before: activities like surfing, coasteering or mountain-boarding are not uncommon. Taking part in these activities will not only give you new experiences, but also the chance to meet new people and build friendships. Phase two: Live life. The second part of the programme also involves a one-week residential experience, typically staying in university halls of residence. The focus is on learning new skills and having the opportunity to experience what living away from home is like. You will be provided a budget to plan and buy the ingredients necessary to cook your own meals as a group. Participants also have the chance to experience some skill-based workshops, anything from candle-making to DJ-ing to sports coaching.

Working in groups of up to sixteen and mixed with students from other schools, this is an opportunity not only to discover new skills, but to discover yourself too. Phase three: Do good. The final phase of the programme focuses on social action and, in groups, participants need to plan and organise a fundraising event or activity, with the support of their NCS Coordinator. Previous NCS groups have run bake sales, car washes, coffee mornings, sponsored walks and exercisea-thons. Imagination and creativity are the only limits on what can be done. In recognition of the World War I anniversary, one group decided to raise money for Help for Heroes by running wheelbarrows up and down Winchester High Street, not only being sponsored to do it, but also getting some idea what it might have been like working as a stretcher bearer in the trenches. You will also have the chance to work with a voluntary organisation to give a little of your time back to your community. This could be anything from working in conservation or wildlife organisations, helping out in a charity shop or volunteering as a coach with a local sports club. Local NCS delivery partners will know of placements available, but eager participants could also suggest their own if there is an organisation they would particularly like to work with. These volunteering hours can also count towards Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Service hours, for those also doing this. Summer 2020 saw this phase of the project really respond to the challenges of the pandemic when some groups chose to make gift boxes and thank you mugs for key workers.

Completion: an opportunity to celebrate.

After achieving all that, it’s time to celebrate. All participants will receive a completion Certificate signed by the Prime Minister in recognition of everything they have done. Local delivery partners will organise a celebration event, anything from a meal out to a theme park visit to a ‘graduationstyle’ ball, with posh frocks and suits. It’s a time to reflect on the programme, share photos and videos, and cement those memories and new friendships. Although you can only do the programme once, for those who want to stay involved, there is also the chance to continue working with their local groups as NCS staff.

What does NCS give you? Apart from all of this, Dudley, one local NCS Project Coordinator, believes you will never be lost for words ever again. “If you’re ever sat in an interview and stuck for something to say, NCS will give you plenty to talk about,” he said. “NCS adds so much to your arsenal: responsibilities, projects, teamwork, fantastic life experiences. It can really help you to stand out. We’re starting to find that, in interviews, employers aren’t asking why you did NCS, but you didn’t!”

Dudley has so many great memories of working with groups of students that choosing just one to illustrate the programme’s benefits is really tough. “I particularly remember one student with special educational needs who came away with us a few years ago,” Dudley recalled. “Before he joined us, his parents had been really concerned about his future, but I remember his Mum saying that she’d got a different son back at the end of the experience! The NCS programme saw beyond his needs and treated him as an individual, challenging him to build his confidence. The following year, he and his Mum went back to his school to talk to parents about the whole experience, something he could never have contemplated before. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place!” How do you get involved? NCS is open to anyone from any background, whether in main-stream schooling, fee-paying or home education, as long as they are aged 16 to 18. The maximum any NCS delivery partner will charge is £50 for the whole experience, and many offer deals on those fees. Every school in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland has been allocated a local delivery partner who will coordinate with the school to start recruitment, usually around February ready for the summer. For most interested Year 11s, the first step will be to ask in school; your Head of Year should have details. If you are home-schooled, head to the NCS website for their live chat and call centre to find out who delivers the programme in your area.

With the ever changing circumstances we are all experiencing, the contents of the programme are liable to change to ensure NCS delivers within national restrictions and guidelines at the time. However, the premise of building friendships, gaining new experiences and challenging yourself to do good will never change.

For more information, visit the NCS website, www.wearencs.com