Member Article

Sharon Hodgson MP praises teen volunteers

Teenage participants and graduates of the country’s biggest youth movement, National Citizen Service (NCS), met with their local MP to share their experiences of the programme.

Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington & Sunderland West, visited teenagers at Sunderland Software City where she heard about how they had been spending their summer.

Biddick Academy students Chloe Sutton, Laura Taylor and Eva-May Beattie, all 16, explained to their MP how NCS had been a welcome addition to their summer holidays after completing their GCSE exams.

Also attending were two graduates of the scheme, Millie Whiteford, currently studying at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, 17, and Alex Elliott-Smith, 17, who completed the programme in 2016. The pair explained how NCS had encouraged them to continue volunteering.

Chloe, Laura and Eva-May are just three of over 450 teenagers from the Sunderland local authority area who took part in NCS over the summer. After visiting the programme last year, Sharon Hodgson MP wrote to local schools to encourage promotion of the scheme – which had a positive impact on the uptake; which was a record number for the area.

Chloe Sutton said:

“I’ve wanted to do NCS since I first heard about it when I was in year 10 and finally had the chance to sign up this year.

“I faced my biggest fear; heights! My team cheered me on to complete a scary Jacob’s Ladder activity and from that point I was confident enough to try out canoeing and other activities with ease.

“Before NCS I wasn’t sociable but now I’ve got to know people outside of my usual friendship group.

“For our projects my team and I did a litter pick in Doxford Park and also fundraised £300 through a sponsored dip in the North Sea. The money went towards our volunteers’ appreciation project where we put together baskets of goodies and handed them to brilliant local volunteers.

“We also did a mental health awareness campaign by putting posters in Sunderland city centre that signposted people towards the charity MIND.”

Laura Taylor said:

“I signed up to NCS because I thought it would be an experience to change my summer and make me more employable and I really enjoyed it.

“My team worked together to help a number of charities. We raised money for the local YMCA and created helpboxes for their newcomers, and also the Stars on Earth Foundation which helps disabled people gain new skills. We also helped Animal Krackers, a local animal rehousing charity, who were so grateful that young people could help them.”

Eva-May Beattie said:

“My Nana had passed away just before NCS and I was upset. Everyone at NCS made me feel so much better and the activities on week one took me away from it all. I was doing things that I’d never done in my life and discovered talents that I didn’t know I had!

“My team helped The Rainbow Trust by creating a mural at their centre. It contains everything that is great about Sunderland, like all of the landmarks.”

NCS graduate Millie Whiteford said:

“Since NCS I have been actively volunteering in my local community and I’ve also been encouraging other teenagers to sign up to NCS. I held a live Facebook video to answer questions from future participants and their parents about my time on the programme.

Fellow graduate Alex Elliott-Smith said:

“I’ve recently completed 400 hours of volunteering since I took part in NCS. I have been logging them using the V•Inspired Awards system, where I receive certificates that highlight my volunteering hours. It’s something extra that I can take to job and university applications.”

Sharon Hodgson MP said:

“It was lovely to meet with local young women who have taken part in National Citizen Service volunteering projects. It is clear that their experiences will equip them well for the future.

“I was really impressed about the outcomes of NCS when I last visited in 2016, so much so that I wrote to the headteachers of the local schools to encourage take-up. It is great to hear that this summer has seen a record number of participants from my constituency.”

In the North East NCS is delivered by a partnership of V•Inspired, National Youth Agency (NYA) and thirteen local delivery partners from the voluntary and community sector across the region, including Groundwork and Catch22 in Sunderland.

The next NCS programme will be taking place during the autumn half-term and is open to 16 and 17 year olds who will be in year 12 or 13. Teens will get a chance to experience adventure in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales or Scottish borders and meet new friends before returning home to deliver a community project that makes a lasting impact on the local area.

NCS will never cost any young person more than £50 including food, transport and accommodation for the time away. Young people eligible for free school meals qualify for a bursary and can take part for £10 or less.

Parents or teens should visit www.ncsyes.co.uk or call 0192 247 4020 to express an interest.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by NCS North East .