Youth sector could help tackle NCS 'growth challenge'

In an open letter, UK Youth chief executive Anna Smee warns that despite an extra £1.2bn being pledged by government to grow NCS over the next five years, it will be a challenge to recruit sufficient numbers of staff and young people to deliver and take part in the social action programme.?

??In last November's Spending Review, the government set a target of engaging 300,000 young people in NCS by 2020, and has subsequently said it wants 60 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds to be taking part by 2021 (around 450,000 young people). However, Cabinet Office data published last year showed 57,609 young people participated in 2014, well below the 90,000 target set by the Prime Minister.

"It must be acknowledged that, despite considerable funding, there is a significant challenge in recruiting and training a sufficient number of staff over the next five years to engage 450,000 young people per year by 2021," the letter states.

“The solution to the NCS growth challenge may lie with other players in the youth sector who have had longer to build their reach.

“The youth sector is keen to share its learnings and networks with NCS, to ensure young people get the best possible outcomes, we hope NCS will recognise and accept this offer.”??

The letter, which has also been signed by 13 of UK Youth's regional members and is to be sent to the Prime Minister next week, adds that young people need to be engaged before NCS and afterwards and the youth sector and local providers could be a “valuable ally”.

The organisations have urged the Prime Minister to recognise the importance of supporting young people through their social development journey and have called for more investment in community-based youth provision that offers young people pre- and post-NCS opportunities for social engagement, social learning, social action and social leadership.

The letter also calls on the government to provide more support for youth charities and social enterprises to deliver NCS and to strike agreements with voluntary organisations to help strengthen and grow NCS.

??“By working collaboratively, the whole of the youth sector can provide different opportunities for young people to develop skills at every stage of their lives, so by the time they reach 16 they are ready and able to participate in NCS,” the letter adds.