SAFC duo join teenagers for NCS project

Sunderland AFC’s Joel Lynch and George Dobson joined a group of teenagers taking part in the Autumn National Citizen Service (NCS) project recently to see how they think Sunderland could become a better place to live for everybody. George (the Foundation’s NCS Ambassador), Joel, NCS participants and members of Young Asian Voices community group took part in a workshop focusing on addressing community cohesion and integration. The group was set a task to collect information regarding local charities and discuss how they could link a social action project to helping a cause. Teenagers on the NCS programme chatted with players about their work, including a project highlighting their favourite things about living in Sunderland and what they think could be done to improve it. NCS offers 16- and 17-year olds in the North East an opportunity to participate in a personal development programme.

It was great to come to here and visit the project.  As an ambassador to witness first-hand the impact the project can have on the local community and on the teenagers is very fulfilling.

George Dobson, Sunderland AFC Midfielder

Teenagers engage in a variety of team building activities followed by residential experiences that provide them with skills and necessary for their task of creating and delivering a social action project that will benefit the community. Craig Martin, NCS manager at Foundation of Light added: “Over the year NCS will help hundreds of teenagers develop and grow.  Many who have just left school are still unsure what they want to do with their lives and projects like this is ideal, as it can have a positive effect their local community and show how they can influence change in their neighbourhoods.” The flagship government programme offers something for everyone and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to find your identity, take control of your life and channel your energy into making a difference to the local community. Since its launch in 2009, NCS is one of the fastest growing youth programmes engaging 500,000 young people.