National Citizen Service (NCS) is an experience not to be missed.
If you are aged 15-17 (Year 11/Year 12 equivalent), then this is your chance to have the summer of a lifetime!
You can meet new friends, develop skills, make a difference in your community and take on exciting challenges.
NCS can help you grow in confidence, as well as develop teamwork and leadership skills. It also looks great on your CV and provides an enjoyable summer experience.
The programme is also recognised by UCAS, so if university is your aim, this programme will help you deliver a great personal statement.
How does summer NCS work?
NCS is a three or four-week experience in the summer holidays and is split into four phases. It runs from Monday-Friday and not on weekends.
Phase One (Adventure)
The first phase is all about challenging yourself! The week will be spent at Swanage, Dorset in glamping-style accommodation with our outdoor activities provider Land and Wave.
You will be in a group of 12-15 other young people, giving you the chance to meet loads of new friends and enjoy time away from home.
In your team, you will get the chance to take part in adrenaline-fuelled activities such as coasteering, the inflatable water park, kayaking, bush craft and the slip ‘n’ slide.
This is your opportunity to try new things, challenge yourself and get to know your team-mates.
Phase Two (Discovery)
After a weekend resting at home, you will join us on the Monday for the second phase. This is another residential, but held closer to home at Fort Purbrook.
This week has two key focuses – independent living and learning new skills. You will be cooking for yourself and your team-mates each night, offering a real taste of independent living.
During the day, you will take part in different interactive workshops, designed to give you some new skills and develop yourself.
You will get the chance to take part in workshops such as cooking, Destination Portsmouth, first aid, photography and much more.
Phase Three (Social Action)
This is your chance to make a difference in your community and is either the last week or last two weeks of your programme, depending on which wave you book on to. It is non-residential, so you stay at home and travel into a local hub site in Portsmouth each day.
Your team get to design and deliver a social action project in your local community. This can be anything from a family fun day or helping the elderly to awareness campaigns or supporting the homeless.
It is completely up to your team to decide and plan which project you would like to deliver and which cause you would like to support.
Phase Four (Celebration)
At the end of the summer, you will be invited to a celebration event at the Guildhall in Portsmouth with your family and friends. This is your chance to celebrate your achievements.
You will receive a certificate signed by the Prime Minister, which you can add to your CV, job applications and any university applications in the future.
After NCS, the opportunities are endless, with the chance to stay involved with the Pompey in the Community NCS graduate programme.
This provides opportunities such as extra workshops, reunions and international trips. There is also the chance to join local, regional and national youth boards for NCS too!
How to book
Each place on NCS is worth £1,500, but you will never be asked to pay more than a £50 contribution. This is inclusive of food, accommodation, transport and activities.
Pompey in the Community are also offering a special offer this summer, so if you sign-up during our open evening, the total cost is just £35.
Spaces are extremely limited and offered on a first come, first served basis.
An NCS open evening will take place on Tuesday, March 19, when you can book a place for your son or daughter, meet the team who run the programme and discover more information.
To attend, please click here and fill in your details to register your attendance.
For more information, please get in touch with the Portsmouth NCS team by emailing ncs@pompeyitc.org.uk or calling (023) 9272 8899 (option two).