• About this study
• Our findings
• Our study details
• Participants

National Citizen Service Evaluation | Our findings

The Government commissioned over 10,000 NCS pilot places in 2011, with around 8,500 places taken up by young people.

NCS has three broad aims: to make society more cohesive, more responsible and more engaged.

The impact of NCS on young people

We measured the short term impacts on young people in relation to four outcomes identified as contributing to a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society. The four areas were:

• teamwork, communication and leadership
• transition to adulthood
• social mixing
• community involvement.

We identified the following impacts on these outcomes:

• A range of positive impacts in relation to 'communication, teamwork and leadership'.
• A range of positive impacts in relation to 'transition to adulthood'.
• A small number of positive impacts in relation to social mixing, although change in this area was mixed.
• A small number of impacts in relation to community involvement, although change in this area wasn't consistent.

Young people's experiences of NCS

More than 90% of participants agreed that NCS was enjoyable and worthwhile and had:

• given them the chance to know people they wouldn't normally mix with
• given them the chance to develop skills for the future
• made them proud of what they had achieved.

Was NCS value for money?

The pilot cost the Government £14.2 million to deliver. An additional £3 million was raised by providers.

The evaluation provides estimates of three types of societal benefit:

• More than £600,000 in hours volunteered by NCS participants.
• More than £10 million in extra earnings and almost £3 million in extra tax revenue as a result of increased confidence and job related skills.
• Up to £17 million in extra earnings and almost £5million in extra tax revenue as a result of NCS participants pursuing educational opportunities.

Recommendations for future roll out

• More time should be allowed to recruit NCS staff and participants.
• Greater flexibility in programme delivery would help increase attendance and make NCS more accessible.
• National and local championing of NCS would help raise awareness of the programme.

You can:

Of interest: