Last updated at 16:32, Tuesday, 30 October 2012

YOUNG people are taking up life-changing challenges this week.

A new autumn programme will give more teenagers the chance to get involved in National Citizen Service.

In Cumbria the government programme is managed by Inspira (formerly Connexions Cumbria) in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust in Cumbria.

During half term apprentices and young people who have just started college have the opportunity to spend time away from home doing outdoor activities and learning new skills.

The rest of the programme, over the following six weeks, will allow them to work with their teams to learn about their community and organise and run their own social action projects.

Inspira says with youth unemployment still standing at over one million, it is important young people develop the essential skills required by future employers. NCS aims to develop life skills to help young people transition in to adulthood, while also teaching them key skills such as communication, team working and leadership skills.

One graduate from the summer programme, Rebecca Wharton, 16, of Barrow, credits NCS with helping her become more independent, introducing her to new friends, boosting her self-confidence and helping her to develop a valuable role in her local community helping her old Brownie pack.

Rebecca’s three-week adventure began with a week in Aberdovey, Wales, where she took part in outward bound style activities.

Her second week was based at a youth hostel in Arnside, where the group learned to cook for each other and visited the local coastguard, and the third phase saw them helping the local community in Ulverston, coming together to construct a path for the newly built cafe in Ford Park.

The social action task inspired Rebecca to get in touch with her old Brownie pack, Trinity Church Brownies, where she continues to volunteer and is working towards a Young Leaders Programme. She found the community work aspect of the NCS extremely rewarding.

Rebecca said: “If NCS gave me one thing it gave me confidence: confidence in myself, confidence to talk to others and confidence in understanding that it feels good to want to do something for someone else.”

Mark Bowman, Inspira chief executive, said: “The feedback we hear from employers is that young people are lacking in some life skills required to be productive in the workplace. NCS has been designed to help bridge this gap.”

First published at 16:15, Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk