News
National Youth Agency Chosen to Help Deliver NCS in 2012
28 November 2011
The National Youth Agency (NYA), in partnership with O2 Think Big and two local delivery agencies, has been selected to run two National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot schemes in Kent and Warrington in 2012.
The leading youth work organisation is one of 29 delivery partners chosen by the Cabinet Office, through a competitive tender, to deliver NCS pilots nationwide.
NCS aims to promote a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society by bringing young people from different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities. It is a voluntary programme for 16-year-olds which focuses on their personal and social development which includes challenging activities, from away-from-home residential experiences to a self-designed social action project.
The NYA has identified the opportunity to join forces with the O2 Think Big programme, which it has managed since 2010, by working with O2 Think Big Youth Partners, Connexions Kent and Medway and Warrington’s Participation Through Sport, to run the six week programme during the summer of 2012. Young People engaging with the programme through these organisations will also be provided with funding from Think Big to deliver a social action project in their area to benefit their local community.
Fiona Blacke, NYA chief executive, comments: “NCS is a tremendous opportunity for young people and we are delighted to have been awarded this contract.
“The programme’s values complement our work with Think Big and are consistent with the core purpose of youth work – providing opportunities for young people to learn about themselves, others and society, through engagement with non-formal learning activities to build social and personal development.”
Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, said: “Having visited National Citizen Service schemes this summer, I have been extremely impressed by the fantastic community spirit being created and the dedication, hard work and tenacity not only of the NCS participants, but also their youth workers and leaders. Everyone I have met has genuinely enjoyed the scheme and spoken highly about the benefits.
“I’m delighted we can begin to roll this out further and move towards the Government’s ultimate goal to make this a rite of passage and give every 16-year-old the chance to get involved. The 2011 participants will undoubtedly reap the rewards of their hard work this summer and go on inspired to achieve great things.”
For further information on the work of the National Youth Agency visit: www.nya.org.uk and for further details on O2s Think Big visit: www.o2thinkbig.co.uk. More information on NCS can be found at www.directgov.uk/nationalcitizenservice
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For further media information CONTACT
Holly-Marie Draper
Tel: 07921 687847
Email: hollyd@nya.org.uk
