This Saturday, Fleetwood Town will celebrate the impact that young people from Wyre and surrounding areas have had on NCS, a youth programme aimed at 16-17 year olds.
The awareness raising campaign, #NCSMatchday, is organised by Fleetwood Town Community Trust - who deliver the National Citizen Service programme locally.
On Saturday for Town's match against Doncaster Rovers, a handful of lucky Cod Army fans - who all spent their school holidays meeting new people, learning new skills and giving back to their community through the NCS programme - will be attending the game as special guests of the club to raise awareness of NCS.
In 2019, young people from EFL Trust’s network delivered over 650 Social Action Projects, volunteered over 260,000 hours of social action and raised over £230,000 for local charities and causes.
The event, supported by the club and Community Trust, will be part of a wider EFL Trust (Charitable Arm of EFL) campaign that will see #NCSMatchday reach over 36 EFL and Premier League clubs across the country, highlighting the positive work that young people have done in their local community.
In 2019, #NCSMatchday reached over 2 million people, with over 450 footballers players across the country celebrating NCS and the young people who have given back to the local community.
Fleetwood Town fan and NCS graduate Andrew Woodhouse (18) said: “I took part in NCS as I wanted to challenge myself over the summer and take part in new challenges as well as meet new people.
"My NCS turned out to be three of the best weeks I have ever had. This was because I had developed new skills and faced some of my greatest fears, fears such as climbing and going under water whilst kayaking. As well as the practical activities, I got to work as part of a team in organising a charity event, where I met with large stakeholders with the aim of raising money.
"We were able to raise over £1,000 by completing a 24 hour cyclathon. The programme has given me outstanding life skills as well as making many friends for life. I could not recommend NCS enough to anybody leaving school this summer.”
James Hill, a professional footballer at Fleetwood Town Football Club, Fleetwood Town Community Trust Youth Ambassador and NCS Graduate of 2018 said: “The NCS programme gave me and the other lads in the team the opportunity to mix with others in the local community. It also helped me conquer my fear of heights through going up and down mountains within the first weeks residential.
"I’m honoured to be chosen as an NCS Ambassador for Fleetwood Town Community Trust, and really look forward to celebrating all the great work local teens have done in the community this summer.
"NCS is a great initiative that gives young people the chance to come out of their comfort zone and try new challenges head on whilst also making great friends along the journey.”
NCS is a flagship government initiative that provides young people aged 16-17 the chance to take on new challenges, experience exciting activities, make long-lasting friendships and develop vital skills that will support them later in life. Supporting young people’s transition to adulthood, the programme develops their strength of character, giving a sense of purpose, optimism and belonging.
Almost 600,000 young people have completed the NCS programme to date, giving up an incredible 14.5 million hours to social action projects since NCS started. To find out more and sign up, visit our website - www.wearencs.com.