NCS - National Citizen Service - any experiences ?

[mainbrochus]

It looks great, and I am keen for 16 dc to do this but they aren't sure. Any good tales to share? Are there any downsides?

https://wearencs.com/what-is-ncs

Ds really enjoyed it - also I know a couple of other dc who did it in other parts of the country and also had a positive experience

My DS really enjoyed it too. He did it last summer and is still in touch with the people he met. Will your DS know anyone else? A lot of them do it with a friend.

Ds did it last year and loved it. No downsides as far as I know.
Got a certificate signed by BoJo to say he completed it. 😆
Government contribute towards it and it is great value.

Very much depends where you are and who is running it. DD’s wasn’t very good at all (London). Whereas friends DCs who went off to Wales/SW had a fab time doing water sports, abseiling etc.

Mine loved it - did the outdoor stuff in Yorkshire, a week at Keele University and two more weeks at home.

DS did his on the IOW and appeared to love it. He'd had a difficult year(s) at school just not fitting in, and there seemed to be lots of like-minded DC's there

sounds fab thanks ! Now to convince ds........

My kids both loved it. My eldest is now 21 and one of her NCS friends went to stay with her (on her year abroad) recently.

DC loved it and was very shy beforehand, it really helped with self confidence

Highly recommend. I work with delivery partners and I've seen how it helps young people confidence. We had a lot of kids whose first or second language wasn't English (recent migrants) who blossomed and thrived from the experience. They also had some SEN groups. It's also free for those who cannot afford the discounted rate (less than £100 iirc for a weekly residential)

My child had a week at Staffs Uni, a week in the Peak District (both good) then several days fundraising in a local town which was really disorganised.

He enjoyed it overall and then did VSO, which he probably wouldn't have done otherwise.

It was the making of my DS. Can't recommend it enough.

Ds really enjoyed it but the last week was a bit disorganised. Actually that made them all work together well so perhaps it was a good thing. Certificate signed by Theresa May. So many prime ministers, so little time…

Just found this thread. Interested for DC for next summer after GCSEs. How would you go about picking the right NCS delivery partner? Is it automatically allocated depending on where you live?

Yes