Catch 22, the Prince’s Trust and v are among 12 organisations selected by the government to pilot the first National Citizen Service projects.
The organisations, chosen from more than 250 applicant groups, will test a variety of different approaches to running the scheme. National Citizen Service will be a seven to eight-week voluntary programme including a two week residential element involving tough physical challenges and a community element, where young people will develop social action projects to help their communities. The government hopes the programme will foster a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility in young people.
Francis Maude (pictured), minister for the Cabinet Office, said today that more than 11,000 16-year-olds would benefit from the scheme next summer. In the future, the government wants every 16-year-old to have the chance to take part.
He added: “We have been delighted by the response to our request for providers. From over 250 organisations we have chosen 12 groups, who now have an historic opportunity to help develop a society, the Big Society, where people do things for each other and take an interest in their local communities.”
Minister for children and young people, Tim Loughton, added that the quality of the bids for the NCS projects was outstanding. “It has become clear that when voluntary organisations work together, they are much stronger and I hope to see this replicated across the youth sector.”
The 12 NCS pilot providers are:
• Bolton Lads and Girls Club – providing 270 places in Bolton.
• Catch 22 – leading a national consortium providing 1,515 places.
• Connexions Cumbria Ltd – providing 492 places across Cumbria.
• Field Studies Council – working with Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) and Action for Blind People providing 540 places in Bradford, Hull, North East Lincolnshire, Tower Hamlets and Manchester.
• Football League (Community) Ltd – working with the club trusts of: AFC Bournemouth; Barnsley; Charlton Athletic; Leyton Orient; Milton Keynes Dons; Plymouth Argyle; Rotherham United; Sheffield Wednesday; and other local and national providers, providing 800 places in those areas.
• Lincolnshire and Rutland Education Business Partnership – providing 120 places in Lincolnshire.
• Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (formerly known as Football in the Community) – working with a range of local partners in the Norfolk NCS Consortium to deliver 490 places across Norfolk.
• Safe in Tees Valley – working with a range of local partners to provide 1,000 places in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
• The Challenge Network – providing 3,240 places in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
• The Prince’s Trust – working with local partners to provide 885 places in a range of locations.
• V – The National Young Volunteers’ Service – working with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and local partners to deliver 1,065 places in a range of locations.
• Young Devon and South West Consortium – providing 900 places across the South West.
