6 young people from the 2011 National Citizen Service programme participated and completed the Young Advisors training at the beginning of 2012. The training gave the young people the skills to become Young Advisors, and got them thinking about how they can work to improve their community and services.

Portsmouth Young Advisors wanted to be involved in the National Citizen Service 2012 by aiding its development and offering their time as volunteers throughout the programme, supporting both the young people participating, and the staff.

Firstly the Young Advisors, with the help of the rest of the NCS 2011 cohort, evaluated the 2011 NCS programme and came up with recommendations and improvements that could be taken on board for NCS 2012. The Young Advisors led these discussions and fed back to the delivery staff their findings, supporting the development of the programme. One recommendation was for the staff to offer more structure and support during the social action planning week, so that the resulting volunteering project would have a more lasting effect.

Throughout NCS 2012 programme the Young Advisors acted as mentors to the participants, some of whom had very low confidence, low self esteem, and very quiet. One Young Advisor in particular, Mat James, did an exceptional job throughout the programme, taking his leadership role very professionally, and ensuring that all young people enjoyed and successfully progressed and completed the project.

Mat travelled from Gosport to Portsmouth without fail, every day to support the NCS programme, and was always on time. A member of the staff team commented on Mat’s skills during the residential, ‘Mat knows exactly when to give his support and when to take a step back and let them [the young people] get on with it. He has really supported a few young women who have low confidence to come out of their shells and their confidence has increased.’

Without the guidance and support from all the Young Advisors during NCS, the 2012 NCS programme would not have been as successful as it was. Below are some pictures of the young advisors working on NCS. They presence on the programme inspired the 2012 particpants to offer their support for NCS 2013.