This week marks ten years since the EFL Trust partnered with NCS (National Citizen Service) to deliver life-changing experiences for young people, aged 16-17, across the country and Leeds Rhinos Foundation is joining the celebrations.
In the summer of 2011 the EFL Trust, with only 8 Delivery Partners at the time, engaged 560 young people on one of the first ever NCS programmes. Now in 2021, the programme is delivered by 64 Delivery Partners and has engaged more than 65,000 young people. These young people who have volunteered over 1.9 million hours in their local communities, including over 80 graduates with Leeds Rhinos Foundation on our own NCS programmes, with another 150 set to follow their path this summer.
Young people have worked tirelessly to tackle loneliness and discrimination, rejuvenate public spaces and raise awareness of mental health and environmental issues. They have taken on challenges, transformed green spaces and walked thousands of miles to raise over £1.5 million for causes they are passionate about.
Right now, young people on Wave 1 of the Foundation’s summer 2021 programme are working hard in the heat to complete their social action projects, volunteering their time to support partner organisations such as Trussell Trust, Herd Farm Activity Centre and Luke Gale’s ‘Kicking for Grassroots’ charity to make a positive impact and give back to their local community.
The EFL Trust and its network are proud to have had over 2,000 young people on their local youth boards continuing their journey on NCS and getting their voices heard in local communities.
Mark Gifford, CEO at NCS Trust, commented on the impact EFL Trust and the network has had on NCS.
He said: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 10th year of working with the EFL Trust. Over the last decade, the EFL Trust network has had a significant impact on the lives of many young people across the country, reaching over 65,000 teens and getting them involved in social action projects and volunteering.
“The EFL Trust continues to play an integral role in helping to empower young people, alongside the support of our delivery partners.”
Throughout this week and the summer, we will be sharing special stories that reflect on the past 10 years and the impact out network has had on young people and their local communities. Keep up to date by following #10YearsofNCS.
To see more updates from our Summer 2021 NCS programmes, follow us on Twitter @RugbyLeeds.
For more information about NCS at Leeds Rhinos Foundation, please email michael.wooldridge@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.