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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

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

129 replies

FreakinScaryCaaw · 24/07/2017 17:10

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) Wink

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 31/07/2017 18:54

Freakin - she training to be a dancer at a vocational school so we have to sign to say she won't take part in certain sporting or physical activities plus she is hypermobile so has a higher risk of injuries.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 31/07/2017 19:05

I can understand that. I know a couple of people with hypermobility.

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MaMisled · 31/07/2017 19:23

My stepdaughter went last year. She's shy, geeky, awkward, anxious and has just one real friend. She returned with loads of new friends and wonderful tales to tell.

BigGreenOlives · 31/07/2017 19:28

Dd is on week 3 now. She's really enjoying it, says the other participants make it great fun. She'd recommend it.

Bluebellevergreen · 31/07/2017 19:29

I used to be a mentor for NCS programmes
I LOVED it. Some if the teens showed real changes by the end.
They made me so proud. They ended add choosing their project as something quite surprising to me, to go to sheltered homes for elderly and do nails, hair, keep company...
Goes without saying that when one of "my girls" was at the piano playing over the rainbow whilst 20 elderly people with different stages of dementia and 20 teens were singing at once I had to excuse myself as the waterfalls were real.
Lovely lovely programmes for young adults

Goingtobeawesome · 31/07/2017 19:30

My DS is doing this next week. Eek.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 31/07/2017 23:13

Bluebell how lovely Smile

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Bluebellevergreen · 03/08/2017 07:43

Really great Smile

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 03/08/2017 12:20

He's back from second week tomorrow. I haven't heard from him but I'm sure he'll have enjoyed it.

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BigGreenOlives · 03/08/2017 13:21

@Goingtobeawesome

DD is still enjoying it - she went to a firestation yesterday as a break from working on their pitch for in the 3rd section. She is even meeting up with some of her new NCS friends on her only day off this week - its going really well.

Goingtobeawesome · 03/08/2017 13:34

I'm really nervous now it's days away.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 03/08/2017 18:03

What are you nervous about Going?

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Goingtobeawesome · 03/08/2017 18:06

Him getting hurt or worse. He has no idea. I'll wave him off with a smile, enjoy yourself comments and a low key be careful.

Floggingmolly · 03/08/2017 18:09

Has he ever gone to a PGL place before? No reason at all to suspect he'll get hurt

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 03/08/2017 18:34

He won't get hurt. It'll do him the world of good.

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Goingtobeawesome · 03/08/2017 19:11

He has been away on a five day school trip and has done Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Just finding it difficult but I know it will be good for him me.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 04/08/2017 09:07

Do you have other dcs Going?

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I17neednumbers · 04/08/2017 09:15

I too think that if there were flexibility about how much time you spend on it, that could attract more people. Some dteens would love to do a week of volunteering for example, but wouldn't want to give up as much as ?is it 3 or 4? weeks of the summer holiday - even this long one!

If any NCS organisers are spotting this thread, would be that something to consider? Suspect it would not really fit in with the idea underlying NCS though, which is quite 'integrated' as a programme.

parrotonmyshoulder · 04/08/2017 09:21

Is it suitable for teens with SEN? I can't find much info on the website.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 04/08/2017 09:27

Give them a ring parrot.

There's plenty of voluntary work available if any dcs want to do that.

Here is a link.

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I17neednumbers · 04/08/2017 09:52

true scary person, though minimum age limits can be an issue for some kinds of work - which is why NCS is good as the NCS organisers can be 'responsible'. I think usually it's also quite difficult to find someone interested in taking you for just a week as a volunteer - not surprisingly given the training and induction involved! And obviously voluntary work is not for the benefit of the volunteer anyway, so fair enough.

That website link is really good - for all ages!

Goingtobeawesome · 04/08/2017 11:02

Freakin, no, just DS. DD has said she might do it in the future.

BigGreenOlives · 04/08/2017 13:45

There are a few people with Sen in my dd's wave, one participant has 121 support at all times.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 04/08/2017 19:19

Ds2's back from second week. He enjoyed it and has a friend from there coming over tomorrow. Biggie for him Smile He has social anxiety although has changed a lot after these 2 weeks!

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Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 05/08/2017 14:11

The friend is there and dh said they're having fun. I'm at work. It's such a relief to know he's made friends.

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