TEENAGERS across York are being urged to take part in a youth volunteering programme this summer, writes Darren Waddle.

The National Citizen Service (NCS) – a Government-funded youth programme for 16 and 17-year-olds – will take place in York in July and will provide 120 teenagers with the opportunity to give up their time for good causes.

The course will be run by the charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and Flying Futures, a social enterprise that delivers sports and arts programmes.

The course will run over the school summer holiday period for four weeks in July and August. The programme organisers will visit secondary schools in York in the coming weeks to to present assemblies on the course and its objectives.

Claire Fearn, NCS co-ordinator, said: “Teenagers taking part are met with a variety of stimulating challenges over the course of the programme.

“They will face a mixture of physically demanding activities and other tasks aimed at developing team work and leadership skills.

“Participants will work alongside local businesses and social leaders, providing a foundation of local knowledge.

“In the final week of the project, the children are requested to partake in and complete a community-based project in order to successfully pass the course.”

Projects in the past have included the renovation of community buildings and the organisation of fundraising events, such as charity music concerts. This will be followed by a graduation ball, where each young person will be congratulated and will receive a certificate signed by the Prime Minister.

Ms Fearn said: “The course has proved a valuable experience to youngsters in previous years and has the potential to turn people’s lives around.

“A pilot scheme last year suggests that the large majority of participants excelled as a result of the programme.

“Surveys showed that 95 per cent of teenagers developed important skills for the future and 92 per cent of them would recommend the NCS to other young people.

“Furthermore, 91 per cent of teachers who responded to a recent NCS survey said the programme was hugely beneficial to students who took part and the course is extremely helpful in promoting educational and employment opportunities.”

Visit www.ncsyes.co.uk for more information and to sign up.