Anyone's teen participated in NCS(national citizenship service)?

[Jellified]

It's for 15 to 17 year olds and is the best £50 I have ever spent. Ds has come back more confident and happier than he's ever been.

Mine did last year after being strongly encouraged by me. Had a ball, did something useful, got something to write on CV, got a part time job on the strength of it, got someone other than a teacher who can write a reference.

Sometimes mothers are right

DS1 did it this year - he really enjoyed it, made some friends outside school and, more importantly, didn't spend weeks at home glued to the PC whilst I was at work We paid early and online, so it actually only cost us £35!

DD just got back today from the first part of it. Very happy - her and me!

A friend, whose DD has completed it, told me her DD had cried on the last day as she had to come home!

Not very popular at DD's school. I think only about 7 of them are taking part. It is perceived as "nerdy" and "geeky." Time permitting, DD will be doing it again next year!

Brilliant isn't it. It seems that everyone who takes part really loves it. Good idea about the reference too.
Sadly ds will be too old next year. There's always ICS after uni though he may not be so easily persuaded at that stage!
Ds2 is keen to go now so may have another peaceful summer next year

Yes, DS did it this summer.

Fab. I paid early too and got it all for £35.

DSS did it last year, and is still involved with the group they were fundraising for - so it's being more than just a one-off for him.

We've got a NCS group coming tomorrow. We've had them before. Good groups of kids.

You should be really proud of your dcs. My lazy feckless little princess said no thank you when they called to confirm dates.

This is the kind of wholesome stuff I harass ds into (and he enjoys - another mother here who knows best )

How does it sit alongside things like cadets and DoE? Is it overkill, or do they complement each other?

ds did this 2 yrs ago. £35 as we paid with a credit card some months in advance. I paid for 3 of his mates as well, whose parents hadn't got credit cards - I reckoned even if they defaulted, and I ended up paying £140, it would still have been excellent value (they didn't ).

Massa - ds (who has done a LOT of Scouting, said the Outdoor Ed part was a bit set up for people who had never done anything like it before, but the individual instructors soon picked up which youngsters had a bit of an idea and tried to challenge them a bit more.
I thought the week living together in a flat was brilliant.

My dd just got back from the Wales trip yesterday and had the best time ever. She just seemed more self confident and articulate. I don't know what they do to them! I was worried because she went without any friends and when we turned up it looked like there was no one of 'her type', but she soon made friends and loved every part of it.
Second residential starts tomorrow.
Best opportunity ever and best £35 spent.
It's much less commitment than DoE as you take part in the 2 residentials during the summer holidays and then just a few weekend sessions required after that.

Thanks, Back :)

My DS has been working for NCS for the whole summer and he says he would recommend it to ANY teenager as there is something for everyone. Best thing is, those on low income can get it massively subsidised, some only pay £5 for the whole 3 weeks.
He has also had a great time meeting so many Young people coming through the scheme each week from a very diverse range of backgrounds.

My DS did it last year - had to be cajoled into it by me - but really enjoyed it. Since then it has been great for CVs / references - particularly for someone like him (I.e. Fairly unmotivated / more interested in skateboarding than getting on in life). Best £35 I ever spent..

Best thing my son has ever done. 1 week of pure fun, 1 further week of team building, 1 week of planning and fundraising for a community charity project and the final week implementing it.
Lots of new friends made and good for his cv.
he and I would recommend to everyone.

Has anyone done this recently?
My son is going to do it I think.
Only thing is we usually go away first fortnight in August?

There are a variety of three week slots available, so he would probably be able to avoid the first week in August if you count holiday in any other week.

Ds1 went this year and loved it.

One of mine did it and had a great time. Also, if you're on certain benefits, there's a reduced rate.

On the recommendations from you all I've finally persuaded my directionless 17 y.o. DS to try this in the summer - so a very big "thank you" from me!

Hope he enjoys himself, dna! NCS was the one thing that actually persuaded my DD she wanted to go to uni by living in uni halls for the week (Kingston). Helped make her decisions easier because she could visualise what she was letting herself in for.

Leeds, DS is a real home-bird and has already declared he can't face going away to uni, so will only look at local, which seriously reduces his options, so I'm really hoping the residential element will show him he could handle living away (even if he and his dirty washing come home every weekend!)

bringback you can ask for the weeks you want - easy to avoid your family holiday.

2 of my dc have done it now - such a fab thing to do, and so cheap !

Just thought I'd give a quick update in case anyone else considering - within 12 hours of online application got email to advise which "wave" he wanted to be on ie choice of 3 waves over holiday, each 3 consecutive weeks, and once replied to that got an introduction leaflet as a PDF with packing lists, dates for parents briefings, induction sessions and all meet times and locations for residential - very impressed and still cannot believe that DS will be getting training valued at £1.5k for just £50!

I have just signed DS up for 22 July. He is excited but not happy about it being the first weekend of the school holidays. He forgot that once the exams are over in June he will have 4 weeks of zero school. He will be ready for the NCS then. And back in time for the GCSE results on 24th August. The course looks great and he is trying to get his mates to sign up as well. I only paid £20 so even better. Happy mummy!

Fwiw, when my DD did it anyone who was collecting GCSE results was allowed the morning off to do so.