National Citizen Service take-up hit by lack of demand

According to the Cabinet Office's annual reports and accounts, a total of 57,609 young people took part in the programme for 15- to 17-year-olds during 2014.

Prime Minister David Cameron had previously pledged to provide 90,000 places in 2014 - meaning less than two thirds (64 per cent) of envisaged places were filled.

The Cabinet Office report reveals that the NCS Trust was tasked with filling a minimum of 60,000 places, but given a "target" of 80,000 participants. This target was missed by 22,391 places.

The 64 per cent of pledged places that were filled in 2014 is the lowest level in the four years the scheme has been running. In 2013, a total of 79.1 per cent of pledged places were filled (39,556 participants for 50,000 pledged places), and in 2012, a total of 86.7 per cent of places were filled (26,003 participants for 30,000 pledged places).

A spokeswoman for the NCS Trust said 65,590 places were commissioned in 2014.

“Each year we estimate how many additional young people will want to take part and commission enough places with our providers to ensure that everyone who wants a place can have one,” she said.

“We commissioned 65,590 places in 2014 and 57,609 took part.

“This meant that 43 per cent more people took part in 2014 than in the previous year and that nobody was turned away. We have grown further in 2015 and are on course to achieve our aim of one million graduates by 2020."

The government wants to expand the NCS further and has pledged to provide 120,000 places during 2015 and 150,000 places next year.

The Prime Minister has said he wants all teenagers in the country to be able to take part in the scheme.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Over the past five years, almost 200,000 young people have participated in NCS and 2014 participation represents a 43 per cent growth on 2013.?

"The numbers being reported represent an aspirational upper estimate from mid-2013. The actual number of places commissioned in 2014 was 65,590.

"The government is committed to supporting all young people to take part in NCS, so they can gain life skills and give back to their local community."

David Reed, director of Generation Change, youth social action organisation, added: "NCS has seen really impressive growth since its launch in 2009 – it's engaging tens of thousands of young people and this has to be a good thing.

“Inspiring young people at an earlier age and in schools is where further recruitment numbers for NCS will come from.

“It's also important to keep increasing the impact of the NCS experience by providing progression into opportunities like City Year and Student Hubs."