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Stephen Metcalfe MP is today encouraging all 16-17 years
olds in South Basildon and East Thurrock to sign up for the National Citizen
Service (NCS), an exciting summer programme aiming to give the young people an
experience of a lifetime.
During
2013 summer holidays or half terms, NCS will see young people from all over the
country embark on action-packed and skills-building courses as well as
planning, funding and completing a project which benefits their community.
Mr Metcalfe commented: "NCS
is a brilliant new scheme which I think will work wonders in South Basildon and
East Thurrock, a community which relies on the generosity and engagement of its
citizens. I strongly encourage young people to take this opportunity to learn
new skills and make new friends while it is available, and I want parents to
pester them until they sign up too."
Participants
will make new friends and challenge themselves throughout the programme, first
taking on outward bound activities like cave bouldering, rafting and abseiling,
then learning new skills and creating community projects on issues that matter
to them.
Previous
NCS cohorts have embraced the challenge of giving back to the local community,
organising events such as music gigs to raise money for a local hospice, bake
sales, and 'sleep-outs' to raise awareness about homelessness.
Liam
Simms, an East of England NCS participant from February 2013, encouraged other
young people to sign up for the programme at his graduation ceremony. He
said: "If you know anyone who is 16 or 17 and they get the
opportunity to do NCS, then definitely go for it."
Another
participant, Aaron Edwards, said: "There's only one thing I don't like
about NCS, and that's that I can't do it again."
Minister
for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP, has championed NCS since its conception in
2011: “I am delighted that we will be providing young people with the chance of
a lifetime to develop their skills, take on new challenges and adventures, meet
new people from a range of backgrounds and have a lot of fun along the
way."
NCS is
a national programme which is being run across the East of England by
employment and skills provider Reed in Partnership.
James
Reed, Chairman of Reed Group and Managing Director of Reed in Partnership,
said: "Whether you are a young person dreaming of a career in finance,
construction or anywhere in-between, having NCS written on your CV will be
invaluable in the future."
For
more information, visit www.ncsyes.co.uk,
call 0845 460 7410, email ncs.east@reed.co.uk
or find "NCS East" on Facebook and Twitter.
