I have welcomed the progress of a bill that would see the National Citizen Service become a permanent feature for young people in Britain.
National Citizen Service (NCS) is a unique, full-time programme aimed at 15 to 17-year-olds and consists of courses for young people in England and Northern Ireland. The courses take place during school holidays and involve a mixture of activities - adventures, life skills and social action - to encourage young people to engage with their community and develop for the future. The scheme has no cost
So far, the NCS has supported young people to donate over 3 million hours of volunteering to their local communities. This summer saw the biggest participation in the scheme to date, with over 1,400 young people from across Hampshire taking part.
The NCS Bill is currently making its way through Parliament having passed its second reading in the House of Commons and moving to Committee Stage where MPs from all parties examine the detail of the Bill and take evidence. The Bill would make the NCS more official and permanent by giving it a Royal Charter and permanent statutory footing.
The NCS Trust, which manages the scheme, will be given a Royal Charter and a clear mission to make NCS accessible to all, particularly those from deprived backgrounds. The Bill would also enable more young people, and their parents or carers, to hear about NCS and how it can benefit them – part of the government’s commitment to offer an NCS place to everyone that wants one.
Schemes like the NCS are exactly what make communities thrive, and this is why I am proud to support the NCS Bill.
Since it started in 2009, over 300,000 young people have benefited from the brilliant scheme, building skills for work and life. It is delivering more confident, capable and engaged young people whilst bringing together schools, businesses and individuals to build a more cohesive society. Importantly, young people and parents do not have to pay a fee to participate on the NCS, making it accessible to all.
As a country it is vital that we think of new and innovative ways of bringing people together. A more integrated and cohesive Britain will be a more prosperous Britain. This means breaking down the invisible walls around some communities and meaningfully engaging with those from different walks of life – which is exactly what the NSC does by bringing people from all backgrounds together.
In a debate in the House of Commons last Monday, I asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports Karen Bradley:
‘I visited an NCS scheme in Fareham this summer where 70 youngsters were engaged in a stimulating project that was helping the community. I applaud those who have led the success of this scheme, including Michael Lynas, whose steadfast commitment has been critical. In light of the Casey review’s recommendations and findings about segregation among our young people, does my right hon. Friend agree that that participation fee—or lack of it—has been critical in enabling the breaking down of barriers so that people from different backgrounds, classes, religions and ethnicities can come together to restore civic pride and solidarity in our country?’
She responded:
‘I agree with my hon. Friend. It is important to make the point that money should never be a barrier to such social cohesion and integration. We want young people from all backgrounds to have the chance to participate in the NCS. It must never be the case that money is the barrier that prevents them from doing so.’