Founded in 2009 and given Royal Charter Body status in 2018, NCS (National Citizen Service) is the only dedicated public body for youth, and a key component of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee. Through trips away from home, grant-funded programmes that take place in their community, and online experiences, young people can find their strengths and become world-and work-ready.
Since its inception, NCS has provided over 1,000,000 experiences for young people, and more than 18 million hours of volunteering and social action have been completed. In 2023/24, NCS delivered more than 170,000 experiences, the highest number ever.
NCS supports young people to grow their strengths. Over 80% of young people say that NCS gave them a chance to develop skills that will be useful for the future. Over 70% of young people say that NCS builds their respect for diversity
The world is a different place for young people than it was when NCS was founded. We have transformed our offer and range of experiences to better meet young people where they are. Young people now have choice in how they engage with NCS and grow their strengths in different ways, year round – through trips away from home, grant-funded programmes that take place in their community, and online activities. We plan to deliver more experiences to young people than ever before – over 260,000 over the next two years.
We are shaping the government’s ambition for young people by generating insights and evidence on what works, and convening cross-sector stakeholders to support great policymaking. Through our transformed offer, we are working with over 300 locally embedded partners, more than ever before. Whatever their experience, young people will have the opportunity to grow their strengths and realise their potential to become exactly who they want to be — through boosting their confidence, getting involved in social action, being a force for good, and learning new skills to become world and work ready. Social cohesion and putting young people first remain at the heart of everything that NCS does.
NCS is managed and supported by NCS Trust, our central team, who are constantly working to make sure we deliver the most impactful experiences 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 values.
Our Vision
A country of connected, confident and caring citizens where everybody feels at home.
Our Mission
To inspire generations of citizens through shared experiences that develop character and bridge social divides.
Our Strategy
NCS Trust has been on a journey of transformation in order to better meet the needs of today’s young people.
Our Values
At the heart of the Trust are our core values, which drive our commitment to young people, excellence and integrity in all that we do.
