Government readies push for National Citizen Service
The Cabinet Office has approved plans to develop an integrated marketing campaign for its National Citizen Service (NCS) – the government’s flagship scheme to get young people more engaged with communities.
In its latest spending review update, the government office says it has approved funding to “develop an NCS communication and engagement strategy, including plans for marketing, a mechanism for participants to feedback on providers, and ways of facilitating ongoing service and connections through a common web platform for alumni”.
These plans should be completed by the end of February 2011. An evaluation plan will begin shortly afterwards.
The government’s current plans aim to run a pilot for around 10,000 young people from June to September 2011.
It says that NCS will act as a gateway to the Big Society for many young people, by supporting them to develop the skills and attitudes they need to get more engaged with their communities and become active and responsible citizens.
Goals for the programme include promoting mixing participants of different backgrounds, supporting the transition into adulthood for young people and enabling young people to work together to create social action projects in their local communities.
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