So NCS (short for National Citizenship Service) is a 3 week programme which runs in the summer months from the end of June to the beginning of September. During the programme, teenagers take part in a variety of activities during the 3 weeks. 

The first week is a residential week which can be spent in various places in the U.K such as the Home Counties and the Shires. There, you'll take part in a variety of physical activities such as abseiling, kayaking, hiking, rock-climbing and more. After, you'll come back to London/ Surrey to have a couple of days break before phase 2 which will be staying at a London university, most likely to be either Kingston University or St George's University in Tooting. Here, this is the skills part where you can learn new skills about living in solo accommodation with other people in your NCS group who you would have met at the beginning of the programme. After that, lastly, you will return home and participate in day activities which will be related to the skill you choose to do when signing up. You can currently choose from 7 skills which are: Photography, Media, Business, Art, Music, Sport and Drama. With your chosen skill, you are able to design, market and produce a product for a consumer in business, to exploring your creativity in art. During this part, you will be able to meet with a local charity or community organisations and come up with initiatives to help them and make a difference.

Sounds good?

After graduating from the programme at a ceremony, each “NCSer” will receive a certificate signed from the Prime Minister as well as having access to exclusive opportunities and events.

So why do it?

Well, speaking to NCS graduates, they've said that they've found it to be an experience they'll “never forget” and that they're “glad they took part in it as [they’ve] developed amazing skills as well as making lifelong friends”. Also, NCS is said to be “a once-in-a-lifetime experience designed to help 15-17 year olds grow in confidence and gain the teamwork and leadership skills that employers and universities value.” It also provides each teenager with the chance to make new friends, and having over 130,000 sign up demonstrates that it is not too bad right?

The programme will never cost more than £50 for the administration as it is a government funded programme, who spends over £1,000 per participant to take part in NCS. With everything covered, from meals, to travel for the three weeks, don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you live in London or Surrey, as well as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, or parts of Lancashire, you can sign up via the NCS The Challenge website however if you live in any other part of the UK you can check on the NCS Yes website. 

When you sign up too you can use my “Refer a Friend” code which is: 3752467. Goodluck, and don't forget to sign up for NCS, the best programme of Summer ‘17.

By Natasha Kalesha-Kangwa, Nonsuch High School for Girls.