The National Citizens Service was designed with the ideal that young people could become more active in their communities, for many young people their summer experience has been the first steps in achieving this. Becky Walters proves below that NCS can really work as a great introduction to Social Action!

Becky Walters first came onto the Sporting Futures radar as participant of the National Citizens Service in Easter 2011. The NCS is a 6 week summer programme for school leavers helping them develop essential life and leadership skills, developing community awareness and increasing their chance of stepping into employment or volunteering. Becky was a valued member of the NCS team proving to be focused, enthusiastic and energetic. Becky made a positive impression on staff who could see early on that she would have a bright future. She completed the NCS successfully and expressed in interest to Sporting Futures of her desire to volunteer in any capacity to gain essential experience.

Once completing the NCS Becky signed up as a formal volunteer with Sporting Futures and has shown an incredible commitment to volunteering at many different events, sessions and projects showing initiative and standards as high as any paid coach at Sporting Futures. In addition to regular sports sessions and fun days in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, Becky has volunteered at the following events:

• Derby 10k run
• Regional Street Games Festival
• Renishaw Football Tournament
• Queens Park Football Tournament

In addition to volunteering, Becky has been a member on the Young Advisors board, a cluster of young people working together to steer Sporting Futures projects based on opinions of young people. Following the training, Becky and one other young advisor are arranging a fun day event in October this year. They have secured £500 for the event form StreetGames, and have got other volunteers and members of the Sporting Futures team to staff their event.

Becky has also completed several qualification with Sporting Futures including:

• Level 2 Award in Comminity Sports Leadership
• Emergency Fist Aid
• Safeguarding Children
• Equity in your Coaching
• AQA in Presenting
• Basketball Level 1
• Netball Umpires Award

Becky has recently been employed as a casual coach with Sporting Futures and still volunteers as well. She has now completed 350 volunteer hours in just over a year with Sporting Futures and is proving to be a valued member of the team.

To learn more about how you, or the young people you are working with, can access FREE NCS Graduate training click here