National citizens service. Has anyone's teen been on it? Ds2 went this morning. He didn't know a soul.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

Ds2 is 16 and just finished school. He's very shy and hasn't made any close friends at school.

I talked him into doing the ncs course and he's gone off this morning to a yha. He was really brave. I managed to get him talking to a lady before I left him and he looked happy enough. Not heard from him so that's a good sign.

It sounds really exciting. I went on something similar at his age with the YTS. (Shows my age)

lad not lady

I am considering signing myself up just to stop them calling and trying to sign DD up every day

Do they? I contacted them.

My DD has just started her 2nd week. Signed up with a friend but they were put into diff groups which she didn't like to begin with but now says it forced her to make more effort with the others and they're a really nice crowd.

I think it all sounds fab and I hope your DS enjoys it.

Following this as I'm hoping to get more students interested in this. Not part of the scheme, work at a school and they sounded great over the phone, on the website etc.

My son has just done the first 2 waves, he seemed to enjoy the activities and I think the course leaders do a lot to make sure the kids socialise with each other, there's evening talks and games, not much time hanging around by yourself.I think most of the kids went by themselves, didn't seem to be a problem as mostly in the same boat of not knowing anyone.
Having said that, he point-blank refused to do the 3rd and 4th weeks, said he needed time at home to relax. Threats and bribery made no difference.
They can call home, or at least text, if they want to.
HTH

DD did it last year. Brilliant experience. She actually enjoyed the special project part best as they got involved in a great project and worked brilliant together. She did learn a lot in the process.

Very valuable experience and 4 weeks holiday sorted, bliss!

He'll be fine. DD did it 2 years ago and knew no-one in her wave. At the end of week 3 they were all crying at the thought of leaving each other.

It's a fab scheme!

Dd did it last year. She's chronically shy, but really enjoyed it. She had a friend with her in the same group which was good, but she came home with a load of friends from other schools as well.

Thank you everyone.

I haven't heard from him which is good really.

My older two have done it.
Fantastic experience for the dc

Hope he has a great time!

My DD went three years ago. Most of the participants were there without friends, so I didn't get the impression that there was any cliqueyness. DD really enjoyed herself.

Tbf (despite the incessant phone calls) I have only ever heard good things about it. DD's two friends, boy/girl both enjoyed it!

They call because she had actually expressed an interest, but it clashed with something else last year. This year she is working a lot and has other stuff on, so she won't do it now which is a shame!

Hope your ds has fun OP

DC started Day 1 of Week 2 today and, from being very apprehensive and nervous on Day 1 is living every moment. Just had brief text "all is great, all good, night, love u".
It's a fab scheme

DS1 did it when he was 17 (now 20). He didn't know anyone when he went and he loved it. So much so he worked for NCS the summer after as a Team Assistant and the year after as a Team Leader and he's working two waves this summer too.

DS2 also did it and enjoyed it and DS3 is off on the 31st.

My son did it last year and had a great time. Lots of them won't know anyone either. He'll be fine!

It's good to hear all these positive stories.

Ds2 has had a moustache for a while. It's not much of one and we've been trying to encourage him to shave it off. He does sometimes. Anyway he did Sunday night without being prompted
All ready for the ncs or maybe the girls going on it?

This is why I keep seeing teens in those hoodies isn't it. Hopefully it will still be running when ds needs it in five years.

I heard it's cancelled after this year as costs Gov too much money.

Really? I'd heard they had a new chief executive, new offices and a massive relaunch

Just done a Google I see they need to cut costs and increase participation. But can't see that it's ending?

I'm feeling pig-ignorant as I have a sixteen y/old but have never heard of this before. Sounds great, can't see my lad agreeing to it though.

Be great if it did. Although my one criticism is that communication at the beginning was a bit crap. But that is down to the individual organisation delivering the programme - we missed out on several emails including the pre course welcome evening! But now DS is onto the 3rd week all is good.

Communication at the main office was good. It was the local contact who wasn't. She even admitted she was crap at texting back. Really nice person but not good enough. Another man in charge was ok at getting back thank goodness.

My Dteen has just finished and loved it.

It's everywhere in this area.....I drove by some teens raising money for a charity by doing a car wash. I gave them some money and it turned out they were doing NCS.

It's been great for my DS