National Citizen Service Programme for Students

This summer 22 students from The Charles Dickens School signed up to take part in the NCS programme and made a difference in the local community. They were involved in a range of activities that enabled them to grow in confidence and develop life skills including leadership, teamwork, communication and tolerance.

The students were involved in the following activities:

Phase 1: PGL Bawdsey Manor Puzzle Park, Sensory Trail, Blind Fold Games, Team Activities, Hike which includes Geo Caching and bushcraft. Capture the Flag with water balloons with a Colour Run with obstacle course, Water Day Activities, Survival Skills, Inflatable Course, Live music /camp fire, Buggy build, Jacobs Ladder, Archery, Climbing, Abseiling, Trapeze, Giant Swing.

Phase 2: Experience living independently University of Kent -  Cooking on a budget during the Great NCS Bake Off Presentation skills workshops, CV building workshops, independent living workshops.      

Phase 3: Activities include a Local Community Scavenger Hunt to meet local organisations and charities to be focus of the social action project; plan and deliver a social action project.

NCS offers schools the opportunity to become an NCS Champion School which is dependent on the number of students taking part in the programme. The Champion School framework is an accreditation from NCS Trust that acknowledges the commitment to engage by schools. There are 3 levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold, each awarded according to the percentage of students who signed up to the programme over the academic year. The table below shows what is required for each level.

	Bronze Award	Silver Award	Gold Award
School (Autumn & Summer- academic year cohort total)	Bronze – 20% of eligible cohort	Silver – 25% of eligible cohort	Gold – 30% of eligible cohort
College (Autumn & Summer academic year cohort total)	Bronze – 20% of eligible cohort	Silver – 25% of eligible cohort	Gold – 30% of eligible cohort

Based on the number of students who took part this year the School needs to encourage 23 more students to sign up to achieve Bronze Champion School Status!

Thanks go to Mr Lee for supporting the NCS recruitment team to engage with students and parents.

The School is proud of the work students have done this year.  Any students interested in taking part in this scheme should speak with Mr Lee at the School.

For more information go to https://www.ncsyes.co.uk/