Our new NCS project is supporting local teens become ‘world ready and work ready’

Children North East are leading a partnership of local organisations to deliver a new community experience programme funded by NCS (National Citizen Service) supporting young people across the North of Tyne area. 

The grant is part of an exciting £20m funding package that NCS Trust have awarded to organisations across England providing community-based experiences at a local and grassroots level. These new experiences will provide opportunities for teenagers to engage in local activities that foster skills development, deepen their understanding of the community, and empower them to contribute positively to its improvement.

In collaboration with the National Youth Agency and StreetGames, the project was chosen from over 400 applications, allowing the partners to deliver year-round, community-based opportunities and experiences for any young person aged 16-17 years old wishing to get involved.   

The programme will get underway in late summer 2023 delivering positive activities such as sports, adventurous and outdoor pursuits and creative arts and crafts; designed to be fun, engaging, challenging and enriching. Every young person will get the chance to participate in three ‘experiences’ focusing on giving young people access to opportunities that will develop their life skills and support independent living, increase their employability and work readiness and give them a space to be involved in volunteering and developing a youth-led social action project that benefits their community.  

Children North East is pleased to be working with experienced local organisations, including Newcastle United Foundation; Newcastle College; Off The Grid Adventures; Streetwise; Our1Community; Northumberland Wildlife Trust; Nourish Food School; The National Trust and Seaton Delaval Hall; Success4All and The Enterprise Academy. Each member of the partnership brings unique experience and expertise to youth provision and are committed to working with young people to improve their access to opportunities and experiences that will power their future success. 

Mark Gifford, CEO of NCS Trust, added: “I am delighted to welcome a diverse range of local, grassroots and community organisations from across the youth sector to deliver reimagined NCS experiences. This allows us to reach more young people than ever before, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and perspective to become work ready and world ready. Additionally, our grants for targeted experiences will enable us to reach underserved young people and communities.” 

Over the past decade, more than 800,000 young people have benefitted from an NCS experience, dedicating over 18 million hours to community based social action, while gaining invaluable life experiences. 

For more information about our NCS ‘Open to All’ Community Experiences in the North of Tyne area and how to get involved in opportunities local to you, please contact Una Mac Dermott (NCS Project Coordinator) who would be pleased to put you in touch with one of our local delivery partners at [email protected].