Pan

I am deeply saddened and disappointed that the new Labour Government has decided to close down National Citizen Service, @NCS. I began pilots for NCS in opposition, to help build bridges across social divides. Young people from different backgrounds, different areas of the country, different ethnicities, faiths and sexualities would mix and work together – sometimes for the first time. In doing so, they were taken outside their normal comfort zones and had to work together, planning and delivering projects for their communities and learning vital practical and life skills along the way. In government, we set up the full-scale programme, with cross-party support. It was the Big Society in action – a fantastic example of the positive and inspirational role young people can play in our modern, vibrant society. Lifelong friendships were built; resilience and self-confidence were nurtured; volunteering was encouraged; young people gained the creativity and soft skills needed to get on in life – and all could, and did, take part, ensuring that the opportunities offered were not the preserve of a privileged few. It was a programme that did a huge amount for social cohesion. Young people from BME backgrounds were particularly well-represented. Since then, over one million young people have benefitted from the NCS experience. Indeed, it is a proud achievement and I still regularly get stopped in the street by parents who tell me what a positive difference NCS has made in the lives of their children; or by young people who have enjoyed taking part. The results speak for themselves, with an approval rating of over 90 per cent. Much like young people, organisations need to grow, evolve and adapt to new challenges and changing times. NCS has constantly adapted to meet the times, not least during the pandemic, which impacted young people in such a devastating way. NCS has never been more vital, empowering our young people to be united in their diversity, with the skills to get on in life and the compassion to support each other. But rather than be supported to become properly embedded in the fabric of our country and benefit generations to come, Labour are closing NCS for good. It is a deeply backward and regrettable step.

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