National Citizen Service - What Are The Benefits?

National Citizen Service (NCS) is a youth programme; a once-in-a-lifetime experience open to all 15 to 17-year-olds across England and Northern Ireland that is designed to help fast track their future. It's an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people.

NCS programmes take place during half-term throughout the year, and is designed to give our teens the chance to experience adventure, develop skills and make a difference to their community - how? By bringing together young people from different backgrounds for a unique shared experience, NCS helps them to become better individuals, and in turn better citizens.

It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, the child just needs to be aged between 14 and 17 and realise there's more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life passing them by. My Lewis is 15 and he starts his GCSE's next year, thus, he is at a pivotal point in his life. He spends far too much time on his screens, and I would love to get him involved in the NCS this year - to get out there, to meet new people, to engage with new skills and tasks, and to have fun.

He has his group of friends, they go out on bike rides, have sleep overs, visit the beach etc. However, during half-term he still is spending to much time in his bedroom; he's started to venture out less and less with us on our weekend family walks, which is a shame as I love getting him outdoors and away from screen-time. I want to give him the chance and opportunity to grow and embrace life more, and enjoy life outside his bedroom. Thus, NCS is a fantastic opportunity.

Here are reasons / benefits as to why I'm encouraging my teen to join NCS this year:

It will help your child to grow in confidence
Encourage team building
They will make new friends
It will help your child develop new skills
It will allow your Childs University/College application stand out, much like how the Duke of Edinburgh award does
It will look great on your child's CV
It will give your child the opportunity to take part in residential camps and volunteering projects in their local communities.

This year more than 100,000 teenagers from different backgrounds will come together in common purpose on NCS. That means one in six of the cohort of 16 year olds will live together, develop skills together and build community projects together. And one of those teenagers will hopefully be my son! Will you be encouraging your child too?

There are still places available to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity this summer. To sign up now, go to the NCS website - here.