University of the First Age

2012 will be the second year of the Government-backed NCS programme and thousands of young people have already participated in the summer 2011 NCS pilots. There was lots of positive feedback from young people who took part last year.

"It gives you confidence and challenges you in different ways. You feel proud of yourself afterwards."

"I would tell anyone thinking of doing it to just do it. You learn new skills, it's good for your CV and you make friends you'll stay in touch with forever."

"It's been great, the people are friendly and the activities are brilliant. We've been canoeing, expedition walking, camping and rock climbing, which are helping me develop team building skills which will help me later on in a job."

In 2012 UFA are working in Northamptonshire, Durham and Kirklees to offer some of the 30,000 places available across England and the programme will be open to many more young people in future years.

Phase 1: Introductory phase
In this phase we'll meet up with those young people who have signed up, make sure they're clear about what's involved and we'll start to build relationships between young people and staff. It is also a chance to develop excitement about the experience and answer any final questions.

Phase 2: 'Feel the excitiment and do it!'
An exciting 4 night esidential week away from home with a focus on teamwork and outdoor physical challenges at Kingswood Dearne Valley, Doncaster http://www.kingswood.co.uk/centres/dearne-valley/
Phase 2 will provide an opportunity for personal and social development through a series of physical challenges to push participants out of their comfort zones. Challenging outdoor activities and daily team tasks will help each team to bond and to build personal responsibility, self-confidence and self-awareness. Each day participants will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the day's experiences and what team members have learned about themselves, teamwork and leadership.

Phase 3: 'People with Passion and Heroes from Home'
A 4 night residential week based in young people's home community, with a focus on developing new skills and serving groups in the community.
Phase 3 will involve team members returning to their locality, but staying in a residential environment (such as university halls of residence). Teams will use a shared passion, for example for music or art, to build on their teamwork and project management skills and develop an interest in community service. This service might take the form of coaching young children in a sport, putting on an entertainment for patients in a hospital or offering a bike repair service to the local community. Throughout the week, the young people will be encouraged to think about how they come across as they deal with people of different ages in the community, and they will be helped to present themselves more effectively. During the week they'll meet people who use their passions and talents in their work (e.g. arts workers, sports coaches etc) and also some 'heroes from home' - who volunteer in their local community.

Phase 4: 'Big Plans'
Young people design a social action project in consultation with the local community (one week).
In this phase, young people will design a social action project that will benefit their community. This week is non-residential, but full time (mon-fri). Participants will be given a further opportunity to understand their local area, meeting local people and representatives from local businesses, public services and charities. Using this understanding, and in close consultation with local people, teams will design a project that will deliver tangible benefit to the local community and agree a plan to deliver it in around 30 hours, including time spent at weekends and evenings if appropriate, in Phase 5.

Phase 5: 'Social Action Projects'
A period of 30 hours social action on a part-time basis, during which the teams will deliver the project they designed in Phase 4.
At the end of their social action project we'll organise a fair/event to encourage participants to get involved in ongoing social action or volunteering activities in their area and sign-post them to further opportunities. We'll also hold a large celebration and graduation event for participants and their guests.