NCS programme 'could be shortened to save money'

Giving evidence to a House of Lords select committee inquiry, the chief executive of the largest provider of NCS places, revealed that a three-week programme is being trialled - a week shorter than usual.

At a hearing of the House of Lords citizenship and engagement committee, Oliver Lee, chief executive of NCS provider The Challenge, revealed that his organisation has been testing a shortened programme for 10,000 of its places this summer on behalf of the NCS Trust, which runs the scheme.

The move follows concerns raised by a House of Commons public accounts select committee report in March that the scheme's budget of £1.26bn up to 2020 "may no longer be justifiable" unless it is able to cut costs.

"We ran 10,000 of our places this summer as a pilot on behalf of the NCS Trust in a compressed model seeking similar outcomes but over broadly speaking a three-week rather than a four-week programme. That of course would derive savings," said Lee.

He added that before a decision is made on whether the three-week programme would be expanded an assessment was needed on whether it produced the same benefits and impact for young people as the four-week progamme.

Lee said that further savings could also be made by tackling duplications in work being carried out by providers and the NCS Trust.

"The development into a thoroughly high-performing organisation from a start point in 2013 of the NCS Trust means there is inevitably duplication at the moment between elements of what the trust is capable of doing and elements of what the frontline delivery organisations are doing," he said.

"There should be a singular commitment to driving out those duplications."

Michael Lynas, chief executive of the NCS Trust, confirmed that a shortened programme is under consideration.

"NCS is committed to finding ways to improve quality, impact, reach and value for money, which is why earlier this year we announced our innovation programme," he said.

"This programme is testing a whole range of innovations, including our partnership with the Scouts and a personal coach programme to support more young people from hard-to-reach backgrounds such as those in pupil referral units to take part. One innovation we are running is some small-scale three-week versions of the typically four-week programme.

"This is a pilot and we expect results to be available in late 2018 at which point cost savings and potential increased participation will need to be considered alongside our commitment to create lasting impact for all the young people who take part in NCS."

The NCS has struggled to keep pace with participation targets and in February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport revised the government's aim of involving 360,000 young people by 2020/21 down to 247,000.

Earlier this month the In Defence of Youth Work campaign called for part of the NCS's budget to be diverted into open youth work, to run all-year activities in youth clubs, youth centres or on the street.