The Football League Trust (charitable arm of The Football League) and First South Yorkshire have announced a new partnership that will allow free and discounted travel for over 2,500 young people participating in the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme within South Yorkshire this summer.
NCS is a two, four week part-residential programme open to all 16-17 year olds during school holidays. Running across England and Northern Ireland, the programme aims to widen horizons, bridge social divides and create community cohesion whilst developing key skills for work and life. In the third phase of the programme, participants create a social action project in the local community around an issue they are passionate about and spend 30 hours implementing it. In summer 2015, young people of South Yorkshire contributed 100,000 hours of social action by fundraising for local charities, redeveloping outdoor spaces, taking part in inter-generational projects and community work.
The new partnership will benefit young people initially with free travel for two weeks to support them during the social action phase of NCS this summer. This will enable young people to travel around their local community with ease. If a young person has graduated from NCS, and they stay in education, they will be eligible for further discounted travel with First South Yorkshire using a South Yorkshire student pass.
First South Yorkshire, part of FirstGroup plc, are leaders in public transport welcoming almost 60 million customer journeys in South Yorkshire during 2015/16. The Football League Trust are pleased to offer this fantastic service to NCS Participants, adding further value to what will be an amazing Summer.
Matt Handley, Regional Project co-coordinator for The Football League Trust “This is an exciting partnership with First South Yorkshire that will benefit thousands of young people participating in NCS and will ultimately benefit the local community. This partnership will reward young people for their hard work and dedication as well as being an invaluable tool for them when it comes to planning and delivering a social action project in their local community”.
First South Yorkshire’s Allan Riggall, Head of Commercial said, “We are delighted to be working with the Football League Trust in supporting the NCS. Bus travel is an integral part of young people’s lives, and will give them the independence to travel around South Yorkshire safely and at affordable prices with our great value tickets for those in education. We look forward to hopefully extending this partnership beyond this current project and to help the participants of this scheme make a difference in their communities.”
This partnership with First South Yorkshire is set to begin next month. For further information on First South Yorkshire please visit www.firstgroup.com/south-yorkshire. The programme takes place across England and Northern Ireland, outside of term time, and is open to all 15-16 year olds for no more than £50. In South Yorkshire the programme is run by The Football League Trust, for more information please visit http://www.ncsyes.co.uk.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, case studies or images, please contact Tom Roche or Becci Gould on [email protected] / [email protected] or 0207 403 2230, or Brandon Jones, Head of External Relations, First UK Bus (Yorkshire) on 07775-824829
About NCS
National Citizen Service (NCS) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open to 15-17 year olds across England and Northern Ireland taking place during spring, summer and autumn holidays. The programme was established in 2011 to tackle three key social issues; social cohesion, social engagement and social mobility and so far 200,000 young people have benefited from taking part.
It is a unique four week full-time programme focused around fun and discovery, including 30 hours committed to a community project that benefits both young people and society. On this government backed programme, participants build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and adventures, making new friends, and contributing to their community. Not only do 16 and 17 year olds have the chance to give something back, but it looks great on CVs and UCAS recommends referencing NCS on personal statements.
NCS is amazing value for money. The whole experience including food, accommodation and travel will cost you just £50 and bursaries are available on a case by case basis. Support is provided for young people with additional needs.
In 2013, NCS Trust, an independent social enterprise, was established to manage NCS and execute the ambitious expansion of the government backed programme. Board members include former Labour Cabinet Minister, Lord Blunkett.
In 2015, NCS received cross party backing, with support in both the Labour and Conservative election manifestos.
To find out more information about NCS or to sign up to NCS visit NCSyes.co.uk. Like us on facebook.com/ncs, follow us on Twitter @ncs or subscribe to NCSYes channel on YouTube
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America with revenues of more than £6.7 billion a year. We employ approximately 117,000 employees and transport around 2.5 billion passengers a year.
Our vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world… keeping people moving and communities prospering.
First UK Bus
FirstGroup is one of Britain’s largest bus operators with around a fifth of bus services outside London. A fleet of some 6,400 buses carries approximately 1.6 million passengers a day in a huge number of communities including 40 of the UK's largest towns and cities.