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.

[Rosieposy4]

I found the admin pretty poor to be honest, but DS3 especially enjoyed the community challenge part and got really stuck in. The outdoor challenge part was a little too basic fo him as he had done a lot of scouting, wild camping etc.
Tried to book DS4 on for this year but he is away with scouts until mid august and there are no programmes running locally that start then.

[dnamummy]

Doordye - my DS is booked to go this summer. Whilst I'm very excited to see the changes other people report I do have to say the admin seems a little hit and miss. Our provider here offered three phases, only one of which worked for DS because of holidays already booked but we had one email confirming him on that phase then a few months later another email with joining instructions for different phase - it was sorted but I'm hoping for no more mix ups.

It does however suggest worth keeping in touch with your DDs provider as they may have movement between phases that frees spaces nearer the time. Good luck

[swingofthings]

Doordye that doesn't seem right at all. All I can say is DD did it last summer and a number of people dropped off at the last minute so much that they were offering £30 to who could refer someone else. Which actually reminds me that DD did and they did say to her they would give her the money when back then at the ceremony but never did!

All this to say do contact them to say that your DD would still like to go if someone drops off.

[Nitflix]

PS. I think the NCS follow up scheme is called The Challenge. It also has links with Lloyds Bank, Bloomberg as well as other businesses and is for NCS graduates.

[Nitflix]

Just to add about the positive impact following NCS: My son did NCS after GCSEs last year instead of work experience. It was the making of him!

After the 4 weeks of NCS he was offered the chance to go on an interview workshop day and then an interview with one of the following: Starbucks, New Look, Mayor's office. He chose Starbucks and was offered part time work in a local branch (4 hours after school one day and 4 hours on Sunday - fits in nicely around homework and exams).

I doubt he would have had the confidence/motivation to apply/get a part time job if he hadn't had done NCS. He is now earning a bit, and learning vital skills like working in a team, time keeping and customer service which has been amazing for his confidence and self esteem.

[Doordye]

My DD booked on this in Jan payment was processed. All of her friends booked on with her.
Fast forward to Easter, she mentions that all of her friends have received information. I chased it up with NCS to be told. Sorry your booking was taken by a temp & even though we took your payment we didnt book her a place.
Nothing they can do tough.
So after all the hard work of GCSEs all her friends with be going off enjoying themselves & she is the only one left behind.

[Leeds2]

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

[minesawine]

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!

[dnamummy]

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!

[BackforGood]

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 !

[dnamummy]

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!)

[Leeds2]

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.

[dnamummy]

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!

[Mabelface]

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

[Littledrummergirl]

Ds1 went this year and loved it.

[Leeds2]

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.

[bringbacksideburns]

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?

[awishes]

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.

[Hereshoping1]

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..

[Milliways]

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.

[MassaAttack]

Thanks, Back :)

[ArabellaRockerfella]

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.

[BackforGood]

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.

[MassaAttack]

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?

[Seriouslyffs]

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