Organisation description
About NCS
Designed for 16-17 year olds, NCS offers a range of experiences for young people that support them to become world ready and work ready, no matter where they’re from or their background. NCS is committed to building a more cohesive society through ‘a country of connected, confident, caring citizens where everybody feels at home’.
NCS is all about emboldening young people — through growing their confidence, independence and skills; connecting them with people from all walks of life; and empowering them to make a difference in their communities and wider society.
Today, the world is a different place for young people to what it was when NCS was founded. As a result, NCS Trust has developed a new strategy which is responsive to the changing needs of young people, the context of the youth sector, and the priorities of the government.
NCS participants will benefit from a new residential experience from 2023, which will consist of a five day stay away from home where they will take part in activities that centre around employability, independent living or social action. Young people will also have access to digital experiences and will be able to take part in NCS closer to home with regular community-based activities where they can gain new skills, learn more about their local community, and how they can help to improve it. With the new year-round NCS programme, young people are able to choose how they want to engage in NCS experiences.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and steering the new strategy - and the skills required (see “the role” below) reflect this.
Our impact
Around three quarters of a million young people have now benefitted from an NCS experience. For every £1 spent on the programme, NCS generates an estimated economic ‘wellbeing’ benefit of £3.05 (National Citizen Service 2019 Summer Evaluation).
The programme has delivered positive results on key target areas including social cohesion, social mobility, leadership and civic engagement. The NCS programme has shown to have a greater positive impact on certain priority groups on a number of key outcomes - including those whit special educational needs or disabilities and those who come from BAME backgrounds.NCS offers bursaries and support to those who need it most, including families on Universal Credit and young people with special educational needs or disabilities, in line with its commitment to make the life-changing NCS experience available to every young person.
Our governance
NCS was established in its current form by the National Citizen Service Trust Act (2017) ‘to provide or arrange for the provision of programmes for young people in England with the purpose of enabling participants from different backgrounds to work together in local communities to participate in projects to benefit society, and enhancing communication, leadership and team-working skills of participants’ and is overseen by the NCS Trust Royal Charter Body. The NCS Royal Charter establishes the Board and sub-committees and its obligations. NCS is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and is funded by grant-in-aid from that Department.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website