
NCS exists to engage, unite and empower young people, building their confidence so they can go out there and achieve their dreams, no matter where they’re from or what their background is. From the life skills they develop to the friends they make, our ambition is clear – we want to give teenagers an opportunity to unleash their potential, to build their self-belief and get them prepped for life after school.
We are managed and supported by NCS Trust, our central team who are constantly working to make sure we deliver the most impactful experience we can to as many young people as possible. This is achieved by making sure everything we do, every day, adheres to our vision, mission and ambition.
A country of connected, confident and caring citizens where everyone feels at home.
To inspire generations of citizens through a shared experience that develops character and bridges social divides.
For NCS to become a normal part of growing up for all young citizens in the UK that impacts their lives beyond the programme.
We were founded in 2009 to help young people achieve their potential and build bridges between communities. Our first programme had only 158 participants, but, since then, over 600,000 young people have taken part in our programme.
With cross-party support, NCS became a Royal Charter Body in 2018, setting our place in the country as a national institution!
Then, in 2019, we created a new network of Management and Delivery Partners ensuring value for money, and an experience of the highest standard for young people wherever they take part in NCS.
This is further helped by our incredible 150+partner organisations including charities, football clubs, private enterprises, local councils, schools and colleges.
2020 presented new challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we were able to give our young people a new, digital offering, allowing us to adapt our programme for the summer and well into the future.
Our newly launched Youth Voice Forum made up of 36 young people will enable us to continue our vision now and in the future, and ensure the voices and opinions of young people are at the heart of everything we do.





Our five internal TRIBE values reflect who we are at NCS Trust, how we work every day, and what we do to push us towards our vision, mission and ambition: