Across the summer, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust delivered their latest National Citizen Service (NCS) programme. The Trust worked with 277 participants from more than 40 schools from Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Richmond upon Thames and Kingston. The NCS programme consisted of three phases: Be Epic, Live Life and Do Good. All participants involved had the opportunity to experience each phase, throughout the past two months in different areas in West London.

Participants were also responsible for creating and delivering 21 social action projects about issues their local area is currently facing which they had a passion for changing. There were projects around the environment and littering, the NHS, sports/education and healthy living, sexual assault and harassment, homelessness, and mental health.

Be Epic

Every team this summer had the opportunity to take part in a range of residential-style activities, at West Thames College. Participants had the chance to take part in rock climbing, giant inflatable obstacle courses and different other other challenging activities. Finally, all young people also had the opportunity to take part in watersports at Brentford Lock. Both kayaking and katakanuing were the activities offered, delivered by TeamKeane, and was one of the most enjoyed activities of the whole Summer!

Live Life

In the live life phase, young people had the opportunity to develop their public speaking skills and increase their confidence with facilitators from Toastmasters. Students were given support when writing and presenting their very own speeches on topics they were passionate about to their teams. An enterprise day then featured young people working with their NCS staff teams to get a better understanding of business and the skills that employers are looking for when it comes to moving into the world of work.

Do Good

The social action and volunteering phase of the programme saw participants take part in over 8,000 total combined hours of social action, the largest total since Brentford FC Community Sports Trust became a provider of the NCS programme! Students took part in volunteering activities with Guide Dogs, Blondin Consortium, Bedfont Lakes, Gunnersbury Park, Ealing Council, Cultivate London, London Museum of Water and Steam, West Ealing Library and Southfield Rec. Each partner challenged young people to actively do some good in their local area by getting involved with their services and supporting their community development and engagement.

More details on the summer can be found on the Trust website. There is also information on how to take part in the future. See more here.