The National Citizen Service

NCS is an inclusive programme that helps students get the skills, experience and self-belief they need to achieve their potential and their future goals. Founded on the principles of social cohesion, social engagement and social mobility, NCS aims to make a life-changing difference to young people and how they approach life after school.

Aims

NCS exists to engage, unite and empower young people, building their confidence.

Social cohesion: bringing our country together by building stronger communities and fostering understanding between young people of all backgrounds.

Social mobility: building essential skills for life and work, investing in our country’s future talent

Civic engagement: engaging young people in social action in their communities and building their understanding of their role as citizens.

Background

Hymers had run a project called The Leadership for Life Award which took Hymers students and students from local state schools away for a week before they worked on a local community project. The English Football League Trust approached us to run NCS and we are honored to be the only independent school in the country to be an NCS delivery provider.

Resources

We employ two full time member's of staff to manage the scheme. Our numbers have increased each project, starting with 20 in October 2014, to 215 in the summer of 2021. This Autumn we had another 35 students doing the project. 

Over the last 5 years, 1000 young people have completed NCS through Hymers College.

Impact

We assess the number of students who complete the whole programme. Our numbers are very impressive as 99.5% of students have completed their 30 hour voluntary work. The EFLT also assess the programme and has marked our scheme as 'excellent'.

 Social mixing: Working with other young people from a variety of different backgrounds to make a change in their community

Excellent evidence on a UCAS statement or a CV: NCS helps them prove their ability to go above and beyond and challenge themselves

Aspirational opportunities: Students will experience success in different environments and realise their potential through pushing themselves to take on new challenges. They will also experience university life as part of their residential experience

Community engagement: By delivering a Social Action Project, students will discover that they have the power to make a difference in their local community

Membership to a graduate network: NCS provides access to apprenticeships and work experience at extremely prestigious companies, amongst other opportunities

Skills development: The programme helps students pick up many of the ‘soft skills’ employers are looking for

Pupil Involvement

The pupils are 15-17 and come from a wide variety of all backgrounds within Hull and East Riding including SEN and hard to reach.

Frequency

The project will run for three years before we have to reapply to the NCS to continue it.