The new offer, called Be Epic, will run in July and August for 15- to 17-year-olds who will take part in a four-night programme which involves outdoor activities such as climbing, abseiling, raft building and caving. Young people will then take part in a further week's social action project in their local communities.
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Analysis: NCS boss sets out plans to expand scheme
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Interview: Mark Gifford, National Citizen Service chief executive
YHA (England and Wales) will deliver the programme to 4,300 young people alongside a further 49 partners over 110 venues.
Overall, around 48,000 young people are expected to take part in the NCS's summer 22 programme compared with 80,774 young people who took part in summer residential 2019/20 prior to the pandemic.
Details of the new programme come after NCS chief executive Mark Gifford announced a shift to a “year-round” offer for young people.
Be Epic, which costs £50 with bursaries available for the most disadvantaged children, will be offered alongside a series of online and in-person life skills workshops and social enterprise projects in young people’s local communities.
The NCS has traditionally offered a summer and autumn residential programme since it was launched by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011.
Gifford said: “Young people have suffered hard from the impact of the pandemic and repeated lockdowns, with their education and their lives outside the classroom being put on hold as they’re on the very cusp of adulthood.
“We’re delighted to be able to again offer them life-enhancing experiences to help them to become world-ready and work-ready, and to partner with YHA and others to make this post-pandemic year a real opportunity for them.”
