NC...YES!

I know the title is cheesy - don't judge.

This summer, I participated in the NCS programme run by the government here in the UK. It's aim is to get teenagers involved in the world around them, whilst developing key life skills.

I originally signed up as I didn't want to spend my summer melting into my sofa, and Oh God did it stop that all right.

The first week was an outdoor adventure residential and probably my favourite week. You start by being thrown into a group of 12, and you better make friends quick, your going to be spending ALOT of time with them!

Then it's off on your adventure!

The garden from my first week!

There's 60 people to a 'Wave' and 5 groups of 12 within that. You split into your groups to do your activities.

My first week in the lake district saw me climb a rock face, hike  a mountain (in borrowed socks, forgot my own -.- ), camp over night and meet so many new people. The first week is all about over coming personal challenges, for me that was rock climbing, where I became stuck and had a break down whilst clinging to tiny ridges in a reallllllly big rock.

I shared a room with 11 other girls I didn't know, and from the first night we would talk until the early morning! Some of these people are my closest friends now. It forced me to get to know other people, something I love doing now!

The second week was spent at Uni dorms in Manchester. Cold, very cold Uni dorms. Honestly I rolled about the apartment in my duvet every morning. During this week you work on skills, such as public speaking, presenting and team work whilst helping out in the community through a certain medium.

Eg. sport, photography, music, enterprise, drama and media.  

View from the top of the mountain. Wouldn't say it was bad. Also was the only time I had signal in my first week.

The third week, that's all about making a change. You are given the tools to organise a campaign to do something good in your community. I'm not going to lie, it was difficult to organise, but events management is hard, however it looks GREAT on your CV.

NCS changed the way I think about others, I'm more accepting, more willing to participate and more sociable (still not that great though). It's an experience I wouldn't change for the world, and it has given me some of my best memories.

I only wish I took more pictures.

If you have the opportunity, all I can say is do it! 

Liv

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