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Twelve groups including Bolton Lads and Girls Club, the Football League Trust and the Challenge Network have been selected to run the first National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot projects.

Making the announcement, Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office said that over 11,000 16-year-olds would benefit from the scheme next summer.

The NCS pilots will trial a variety of different approaches to running the scheme. NCS will be a seven to eight week voluntary programme including a two week residential element involving tough physical challenges and a community element, where young people will develop social action projects to help their communities. In the future, the Government wants every 16-year-old to have the chance to take part in this scheme.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said:

“Right now too many young people feel isolated from society. We want to create a new rite of passage, National Citizen Service, which will bring 16-year-olds together from all different backgrounds to give them the skills and confidence to make a difference in their communities.

“We have been delighted by the response to our request for providers. From over 250 organisations we have chosen 12 groups, who now have an historic opportunity to help develop a society, the Big Society, where people do things for each other and take an interest in their local communities.”

Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, added:

“National Citizen Service is a hugely important scheme for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises. As well as the opportunities to deliver the programme it will foster a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility in our young people. The next generation will be ready to use the massive devolution of power to communities that underpins the Big Society.”

Minister for Children and Young People, Tim Loughton, said:

“This is an exciting development in the next steps for National Citizen Service. The quality of the bids for the NCS projects has been outstanding, from both small and large organisations. It has become clear that when voluntary organisations work together, they are much stronger and I hope to see this replicated across the youth sector.

“Many young people already make a positive difference to communities across the country, National Citizen Service will give every young person the chance to do this. I am really excited to see the programme becoming a reality and I look forward to seeing the results of the fantastic pioneer projects.”

The 12 NCS pilot providers are:

• Bolton Lads and Girls Club – providing 270 places in Bolton.
• Catch 22 – leading a national consortium providing 1515 places.
• Connexions Cumbria Ltd – providing 492 places across Cumbria.
• Field Studies Council – working with Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) and Action for Blind People providing 540 places in Bradford, Hull, North East Lincolnshire, Tower Hamlets and Manchester.
• Football League (Community) Ltd – working with the club trusts of: AFC Bournemouth; Barnsley; Charlton Athletic; Leyton Orient; Milton Keynes Dons; Plymouth Argyle; Rotherham United; Sheffield Wednesday; and other local and national providers, providing 800 places in those areas.
• Lincolnshire and Rutland Education Business Partnership – providing 120 places in Lincolnshire.
• Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (formerly known as Football in the Community) – working with a range of local partners in the Norfolk NCS Consortium to deliver 490 places across Norfolk.
• Safe in Tees Valley – working with a range of local partners to provide 1000 places in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
• The Challenge Network –providing 3240 places in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
• The Prince’s Trust – working with local partners to provide 885 places in a range of locations.
• V – The National Young Volunteers’ Service – working with The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and local partners to deliver 1065 places in a range of locations.
• Young Devon and South West Consortium – providing 900 places across the South West.

Notes to editors

1. The Prime Minister announced National Citizen Service in July this year
2. The Cabinet Office and the Department for Education are working jointly to implement NCS pilots, with the Cabinet Office acting as the lead department. The Department for Communities and Local Government is also closely involved.

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