Last week, Former Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron, joined a group of nearly 100 young people from Aylesbury Vale taking part in National Citizen Service (NCS).
David Cameron, who also chairs the NCS Board of Patrons, met participants during the first phase of their NCS programme. This included outdoor team-building activities, such as sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, archery and canoeing. During his visit, Mr Cameron spoke to the young people about their NCS experience and to staff to hear more about working and supporting local teens.
“I was delighted to meet a group of inspiring young people, making the most of their NCS experience. Each time I visit NCS, I’m inspired by the incredible impact it’s having, helping youngsters grow their skills, confidence and understanding of the world around them. Over 400,000 young people have now had the chance to take part in this life-changing programme and I look forward to seeing even more teens from Buckinghamshire – and right across England and Northern Ireland – benefit in the years to come.”
The Rt Hon David Cameron
NCS is an open-to-all unifying experience shared by teens from different backgrounds which helps them become better individuals and in turn better citizens. In Aylesbury Vale,NCS is run by Action4Youth in partnership with The Challenge – the UK’s leading social integration charity. After the first phase, the NCS participants live away from home at Caldecotte Xperience in Milton Keynes, where they learn and develop their core skills for work and life, such as confidence, leadership and communication. In the third phase, they will create and deliver a local social action project to help make a positive contribution to their community.
Jenifer Cameron, Action4Youth’s CEO, said: “We were really pleased to welcome David Cameron to our NCS programme and for him to meet a group of NCS participants. It gave him a chance to see how NCS is helping to change the lives of teens from Aylesbury Vale and across Buckinghamshire.”
Chloe Russell, delivery partner manager at The Challenge, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome David Cameron to the NCS programme in Buckinghamshire to see what the programme does best including bringing young people together from different backgrounds to develop their confidence and make lasting friendships.
“It was clear that the teens were having a fantastic time doing the water activities, bonding them as a group before they go on to learn more skills and start their social action projects in their local community.”
More than 100 local organisations across the country deliver the NCS programme and over 400,000 young people have participated to date. As a result an incredible 10 million hours have been devoted to social action since NCS began.
There are still places available for 15-17 year olds to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity. To sign up, go to www.ncsyes.co.uk.
