Argyle Community Trust have today announced a new community experience programme funded by NCS (National Citizen Service) that will support young people across Plymouth, East Cornwall, and South Hams.
The grant is part of a significant £20m funding package that NCS Trust have awarded to organisations across England for the delivery of community-based experiences at a local and grassroots level.
These new experiences will complement NCS’ existing away from home residential offer by providing more opportunities for teenagers to engage in local activities that foster skills development, deepen their understanding of the community, and empower them to contribute positively to its improvement. The grants will also support organisations that cater to specific groups of young people who may not have participated in previous NCS initiatives.
In collaboration with the National Youth Agency and Street Games, NCS assessed more than 400 applications and Argyle Community Trust was selected as one of around 100 organisations to receive funding.
The grant will allow The Trust to deliver a rich and varied life-skills programme to young people, providing them the opportunity to engage in social action experiences and develop qualities that they may not discover in a traditional classroom setting.
Mark Lovell, Argyle Community Trust Chief Executive Officer, said: “For our organisation to continue to deliver community-based experiences aligned to NCS visions and values is very important to us, and our staff. The programme will give young people alternative options to explore their belonging to their community and develop real life skills.”
Mark Gifford, CEO of NCS Trust, added: “I am delighted to welcome a diverse range of local, grassroots and community organisations from across the youth sector to deliver reimagined NCS experiences. This allows us to reach more young people than ever before, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and perspective to become work ready and world ready. Additionally, our grants for targeted experiences will enable us to reach underserved young people and communities.”
Gifford added, “Together, we will work towards creating a country of confident, connected, caring citizens where everyone feels at home.”
Over the past decade, more than 800,000 young people have benefitted from an NCS experience, dedicating over 18 million hours to community based social action, while gaining invaluable life experiences.
For more information on NCS, and how you can get involved, email gareth.harries@pafc.co.uk.