National Citizen Service 360

Woodcraft Folk are part of a successful consortium which has been contracted by the Cabinet Office to deliver a NCS pilot in the Bradford and Leeds area during July and August 2012. The consortium is being lead by Envision, and includes the Co-operative College and Change Agents UK.

The partnership builds on previous links between the 4 organisations, and shows a strong commitment to youth participation, sustainability and co-operation.

The pilot programme will engage 360 young people (aged 16 years) in a range of activities, including:

• A residential in the Peak District, which will include team building activities, climbing, caving and other outdoor adventures
• A camp in Yorkshire, during which participants will connect and develop skills in sustainability and group working
• A 30 hr project, designed by the young participants, to address a community need as identified by them

The partnership hopes to demonstrate the importance of co-operation and youth empowerment in achieving active citizenship and community engagement.

For more information about the project and how to sign up for the programme please visit www.ncs360.org

As members how can you get involved?

This project is a great opportunity for Woodcraft Folk to reach out into new communities in the Bradford and Leeds area, introducing young people to a Woodcraft Folk experience. To do this we need support from our existing members, and there are a number of ways in which existing members can get involved:

• Become a Marketing Agent (January – April), and recruit participants from Co-operative Schools across Yorkshire
• Join the team of 50 summer staff (July – September) to support the participation of young people in a range of co-operative and community challenges. Jobs will be advertised at http://www.changeagents.org.uk/ncs360
• Deliver skills based workshops (August), from bicycle maintenance to bushcraft, carpentry to clothing design! WcF will be seeking to contract up to 20 workshop leaders.
• Lend District camping equipment to facilitate, what will be for many, their first taste of the great outdoors

Alternatively, if you are 16 years old you could sign up as a participant!

For more information please contact Debs McCahon at Deborah.mccahon@woodcraft.org.uk or phone 0845 217 8939.