Opening the Bradford National Citizen Service skills showcase last week, Imran celebrates the achievements and commitment of young people from Bradford on the NCS scheme.

The skills showcase featured 72 young people, 19 of whom are from Bradford East, demonstrating and sharing their newly acquired skills and personal achievements with their parents/carers, friends, and family. Following Imran opening remarks, each of the teams presented their highlights from time spent with Community Works Bradford, Singing for Joy, Manningham Youth Action Group, JOIN Project, Creative Writing and Equity Partnership.

NCS is a scheme which brings together 16 and 17-year-olds from different backgrounds to complete a series of personal and team challenges to make a difference in their community. A place on the NCS programme is valued at around £1300 but each young person is able to gain access for a maximum of £50, with financial assistance also available. In the West Yorkshire area, there will be a year upon year increase in places with a 50% increase from the 2,940 that were able to access the programme this year, to 4,437 by Summer 2018.

Across Bradford East alone there are 309 young people taking part in the NCS and between them, they will complete over 33,000 hours volunteering, delivering over 70 social action projects in partnership with dozens of community groups, associations, charities and social enterprises in the process. The teams will now be embarking on the final part of the NCS programme, designing and leading social action projects and community campaigns to make the positive changes they want to see in their local communities.

Speaking after opening the NCS event, Imran said:

“It is a great privilege to stand alongside these inspiring young people who are organising countless projects in our City to make life better for some of the more disadvantaged citizens of Bradford.”

“After meeting with a group of NCS participants I was very impressed with the speed at which they have picked up some of these skills and I think it is only good for Bradford that these people have been empowered and will be able to contribute to the Bradford Community in the future.”

“I am incredibly happy that this programme is expanding which will give more of our young people the opportunity to experience volunteering within their own community and meeting and socialising with people from different communities.”