Nineteen service providers have been selected to run National Citizen Service (NCS) pilots in 2012.

Making the announcement today, Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society said that up to 30,000 16-year-olds would have the chance to benefit from the scheme next year, a three-fold increase on the number of places in 2011.

NCS aims to promote a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society by bringing young people from different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities.

It is a voluntary programme for 16-year-olds which focuses on their personal and social development which includes challenging activities, from away-from-home residential experiences to a self-designed social action project.

Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, said: “Having visited National Citizen Service schemes this summer, I have been extremely impressed by the fantastic community spirit being created and the dedication, hard work and tenacity not only of the NCS participants, but also their youth workers and leaders. Everyone I have met has genuinely enjoyed the scheme and spoken highly about the benefits.

“I’m delighted we can begin to roll this out further and move towards the Government’s ultimate goal to make this a rite of passage and give every 16-year-old the chance to get involved.

"The 2011 participants will undoubtedly reap the rewards of their hard work this summer and go on inspired to achieve great things.”

Minister for Children and Young people, Tim Loughton added: "The huge enthusiasm for this year’s pilots has shown that National Citizen Service is one of the most exciting youth policies in a generation.

"I believe strongly in the programme’s potential to strengthen and benefit our communities. NCS is not just about volunteering, it's about personal development, social mixing, community engagement, transition to adulthood and rites of passage.

"I've been fortunate to visit some of the pilots running over the summer. The young people I met, from a wide range of social backgrounds, were really enthusiastic about the project and said they would recommend NCS to their friends, and many of them wanted to return to support NCS as volunteers in future years.

"I’m delighted that even more providers will be piloting NCS in 2012, giving thousands more young people the chance to take part in this pioneering project.”

The initial 19 NCS pilot providers for 2012 are:

Bolton Lads and Girls Club

Catch22 NCS Partnership

Changemakers

Connexions Cumbria

Envision

Future Foundations Training Ltd

Global Action Plan

Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade

Lincolnshire & Rutland Education Business Partnership

New College Nottingham

Petroc (formerly North Devon College and East Devon College)

Safe in Tees Valley Ltd with Hartlepool Borough Council

Salford Foundation

The Challenge Network

The Football League Trust

The University of the First Age

v, The National Young Volunteers Service and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust

NCS South West Consortium led by Young Devon

Your Consortium (North Yorkshire)


Other providers will be announced shortly.

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