Students take on community task

This is a government funded initiative being hosted by the YMCA to encourage 16 and 17 years to get involved in their communities. It provides students with the opportunity to build skills for work and life, and gives them the chance to face new challenges, meet new friends and have fun. Perhaps for the students themselves the most important aspect is, IT’S FREE!

Students get to spend almost a week developing a community project. For the first part they take part in an activity packed three day residential camp, where the emphasis is on encouraging and reinforcing independence and team building. Then following a day break, the groups re-convene and plan a Social Action Project. This could involve working with a charity, a community group, helping run a fund raising event, anything that involves getting the students engaged with their local community, where the students can exercise responsibility. During the planning stage students are supported by mentors including the local MP, local councillors, members of the business community and local community and charity leaders.

Once their project is agreed they have a 30 day period in which to convert their plan to action. On successful completion students meet one final time to showcase their achievements and celebrate their successes.

Staff at Robertsbridge Community College will be encouraging students to take up this challenge and look forward to following their progress.

Further details of NCS can be found on their website.