Each year the voluntary NCS programme offers thousands of 16-17 year olds across the country the chance to take part in a residential programme over the summer holidays. The programme aims to get young people more involved with and active in their community as well as helping them improve their CV’s by giving them important skills for work and life that are hard to teach in the classroom.

The programme last for four weeks and offers a packed schedule of adventure and personal development activities followed by a community element, where young people develop social action projects that benefit their area.

Bob met with the NCS North Dorset group, which was made up of 10 young people from the Blandford, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Dorchester areas. Their programme of events, which was administered by Weymouth College, gave the group the chance to participate in a range of outdoor activities alongside the planning of their own community project. 

For their community project the group chose to stage a fashion show in the Dorford Centre in Dorchester with the proceeds going to the Dorchester Mencap charity shop.

Bob commented:

“The NCS programme is a fantastic Government scheme that I believe gives teenagers from a wide variety of backgrounds the opportunity to learn skills that are essential later on in life such as leadership and team building. Most importantly, their final project encourages them to interact with and make a real difference to their local community.

“I was delighted to hear of the positive experiences this year’s students have drawn from the programme. I hope they will continue to build on the skills they have learnt and the friendships they have made and that the success of their community project will encourage them to remain involved and engaged locally.’