Club Doncaster Foundation’s NCS graduates recently met the Secretary of State for Education in the UK Damian Hinds.
They discussed the essential life skills they have developed while on their NCS Doncaster journey and how the programme has changed their lives.
The discussion, staged at Bentley Youth Centre, was part of the Opportunity Area programme, which has been launched to offer sports, arts and cultural activities to disadvantaged young people in Doncaster.
Hinds said: “The Opportunity Area programme is about broadening the horizons of young people from disadvantaged areas. I want every young person living in Doncaster to be able to access extra-curricular activities that build the resilience and character they need to fulfill their ambitions, whatever they are.
“This investment will help young people in Doncaster learn the skills of leadership and teamwork that are so important later in life, giving them the boost in confidence they need to succeed in education or the world of work.”
NCS programme manager Jan Budtz added: “It was a privilege that our NCS graduates were invited to the launch and had the opportunity to shout about our NCS programme.
“Some of our NCS graduates form part of the local DFE youth board, so it was a great chance for them to interlink the two programmes.”
The £1million programme has been launched to improve access to sports, arts and culture for 5,000 disadvantaged young people across Doncaster.
The funding includes £550,000 for a programme of summer activities in 2018 and 2019, which are free for participants aged five to 18.
They include boxing, football, cycling, baking and many more ran by EXPECT Youth, Doncaster’s youth alliance which works closely with the Opportunity Area programme by delivering projects for the most vulnerable in the borough.