103 young people have completed Preston North End Community and Education Trust’s [PNECET] National Citizen Service [NCS] programme this summer!
The NCS programme is designed to get 15 to 17-year-olds outside of their comfort zone and develop their life skills with a two-week programme which comprises a five-day residential, adventurous outdoor activities and planning and implementing a social action project.
Young people on our most recent summer programme spent time in Chester on their residential and took on activities including rock climbing and abseiling in Llangollen, Wales.
Back at Deepdale in week two, participants were split into four groups as their social action projects raised more than £700 combined for four different charities – Young Minds, Age UK Lancashire, Hearbeat north west and the Salvation Army.
They are now being invited back to Deepdale next month to celebrate their graduation.
One participant, Nama, said: “We were treated with maturity and respect so we had opportunities to gain our own independence. In the second week when we did our social action project, we came up with ideas on our own and tried to plan everything on our own. I’ve gained independence, planning and teamwork skills from that.
“We had our residential so we went on hikes and spent a whole day rockclimbing and abseiling which took a lot of confidence. We had a lot of fun.
“In the second week we raised £440 for the Salvation Army in Preston. We also brought food, clothes and baby products and were able to donate that as well. It was nice to help the community with our social action project.”
Fellow participant, Angel, added: “We did activities like hiking and abseiling, which was really fun and interesting because many of us have not done something like that and it really improved our confidence and bravery.
“I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and finding people with common interests. I really enjoyed doing the fundraiser for a great cause and you could tell at the end it was going to really help people.”
For more information about NCS please email brad@pne.com or visit the NCS website if you are interested in signing up for a future programme.