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National Citizen Service on offer to TCA students

Our Sixth Form and Year 11 students are being offered the opportunity to get involved in a fantastic community initiative that will boost their CVS.

Our Sixth Form and Year 11 students are being offered the opportunity to get involved in a fantastic community initiative that will boost their CVS.
The National Citizen Service is a government run scheme aimed at 16-17 year old students with the aim of getting them involved in the community.

The students sign up for a residential course – which involves mental and physical exercises – and then at the end they organise their own social action project for a cause of their choice.

Matthew Bowles from NCS, who visited TCA to talk to students said: “The trips we are currently booking participants on to take place in the summer holidays, where students can take part in either a two week or a three week expedition.

“NCS trips start at the Mepal Outdoor Activity Centre where students get to take part in activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, archery, raft building, high ropes and shooting. The second site groups move to is the CITB college in Bircham Newton where students get to enjoy all the facilities the college has to offer.

“Here they take their focus from team building on to their social action project, where as a group students will develop their own plan to aid a cause of their choice and ultimately benefit the community. After the social action projects are finished students and parents/guardians are invited to a graduation evening where students are given a certificate and are appreciated for the good work they have accomplished.”

The trips are subsidised by the government, meaning that students embarking on a summer expedition only have to pay £50 and students who receive free school meals do not have to pay anything at all.

Mr Bowles said: “The National Citizen Service is not only a highly fun week for the young people taking part, it is also a great qualification to put on CVs or applications as it shows participants are proactive and have the team working and organisation skills to accomplish a project with clear benefits on the local community. The programme is also recognised by UCAS and counts towards the residential for anyone taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.”

A number of students have already signed up and for more information parents and students can visit www.ncsyes.co.uk