National Citizen Service (NCS) is all about giving your children unmissable experiences.  They are offering teens aged between 15 and 17 the chance to sign up for their summer 2018 intake.  It is a two to four-week programme over the holidays that covers team building exercises, developing life skills and a community project.  I would have grabbed the chance to do something like that when I was a teen.  Especially as it looks so great on your CV having achieved something like that.  Making you a more rounded and interesting individual.

It’s all about gaining skills that you don’t always pick up in a classroom.  Which means you’re an attractive proposition for university applications and future employers.  It’s a tough world out there anything that gives you a competitive edge is well worth doing!  Three quarters of NCS graduates feel more assured about getting a job afterwards.

It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Friendships will be made, confidence will flourish, and lives will become enriched.  My boys are only 9 and 10 at the moment but once they are old enough I will be encouraging them to take part.  It gives children real purpose over the long summer holidays and the chance to meet people from lots of different backgrounds.  All coming together to be better citizens and make a real difference!  To date almost 400,000 children have taken part.

NCS was established to help build a more cohesive, mobile and engaged society.  We are all probably a little guilty of having too much screen time so it’s good for teens to go back to face to face interactions.  The NCS programme will stop them being so lethargic and give them the push to get out there and achieve something positive with their lives.

How do you sign up to take part?

It’s very simple to register your child’s interest and you don’t have to worry about the cost.  The NCS is backed by the government and only costs £50.  This price covers food, accommodation and travel.  There are also bursaries depending on your circumstances, so it might end up completely free.  An opportunity like this can really transform a child and they still have places for year 11s to take part.

How the NCS can help your child?

Those that do sign up are more likely to give back to the community in the future.  Being involved in the community is a great way to improve your mental health.  If your child has moments of feeling down being valued and appreciated in a scheme like the NCS offers can work wonders.  Children with additional needs are offered additional support so the opportunity really is open to everyone.  They have made the NCS as accessible as possible.  Even if your child has current commitments over the holidays still sign up as the might find a programme flexible enough to work.

Sign your child up and without a doubt they will have lots of fun.  Getting outside of their comfort zone and trying new activities like water sports and rock climbing.  They might work on their interview skills or first aid.  Reading the testimonies of other children who have took part has really spurred me on to recommend the scheme to everyone I know.

Written in collaboration with the NCS and Tots100.