Government calls on country to run one of the biggest youth programmes in the world

By: 

Cheryl Chapman

Managing Editor, Philanthropy UK

The government is calling on voluntary, business and public sector organisations to play their part in running National Citizen Service schemes across the country creating a market it says could be worth up to £110m by 2014.

Nick Hurd Minister for Civil Society said: “This is the chance for big businesses and small voluntary organisations across the country to shape and be part of a unique flagship government programme at its early stage of development. It’s also a chance to give young people opportunities, transform communities and participate in the creation of a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society.”

By expanding NCS to 90,000 places by 2014, making it one of the largest youth programmes in the world, the government will aim to deliver a key part of its Big Society agenda to help transform the lives of young people all over the country and "build a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society". over time all 16-year-olds will have the opportunity to take part. 

So that it can find out how to make it easier for organisations to get involved, the government has launched a period of market consultation to help inform how it will realise its ambitions to scale NCS, available at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/expandingNCS

Under the programme, young people from very different backgrounds are brought together into a team for three weeks, with a common objective, to give something back to their local community and achieve something of which they can be proud.

In 2011 over 8,000 young people participated in NCS.  Many had life-changing experiences. This year 30,000 young people around the country will be given the opportunity to get involved.