Coronavirus: NCS considers volunteering role to help national effort
Neil Puffett
Friday, March 27, 2020
Young people due to take part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) this summer could be enlisted to help tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged.
The youth programme, launched by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011, is due to have up to 95,000 16- and 17-year-olds embark on residential group activities, followed by community volunteering, this summer.
But in light of social restrictions introduced in order to stem the spread of coronavirus, the viability of the summer 2020 programme is in doubt.
The NCS Trust told CYP Now that while a decision on cancelling the summer programme has yet to be made, it is currently in discussions with the government over a potential role for the scheme in assisting the national effort in the face of the current epidemic.
Mark Gifford, chief executive of NCS Trust said: "Following the recent government announcements, we are continuing to work daily with the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), alongside our network of partners, on our long-term planning.
"This includes the delivery of our summer programme and the vital role that NCS can play to help with the nation's recovery.
"Our discussions are ongoing and we aim to provide an update next week."
The NCS Trust has also said that in the event that the NCS programme that a young person has signed up to is cancelled or changed and another suitable programme cannot be found, a full refund will be offered.
It added that it will offer "additional levels of flexibility" to those who have signed up to take part and are concerned they will not be able to do so.
As of yesterday (26 March) 578 people in the UK have died from coronavirus, with 11,658 confirmed cases.
Social restrictions imposed by the government on Monday mean that people should only leave their home if it is unavoidable.
A number of high-profile events this summer have already been postponed including the Euro 2020 football tournament and the Olympic Games in Japan.
