NCS – Week 2

I got back from week 2 of NCS yesterday and I can’t believe how amazing it was!

I overcame so many fears this week and really challenged myself to move out of my comfort zone! I don’t like talking in front of people or performing etc. But this week I did a solo lip sync, with back up dancers, dressed as Elsa, to Frozen – Let it Go, in front of 30 people! It was so amazing to get up there and face the fear and get over it! Then, the next day I stood up in front of a whole auditorium of people and presented a mock-game-show! I can’t believe I’ve done this!!

We have also been working with a care home and we’re fundraising for them next week! They were all so lovely! 100 year old Barbara was amazing!

I’ve got to know my team so much better and we’re going out for a cheeky nandos tonight! They’re like my family!

NCS – Week One!

As some of you will know from my previous posts, I’m currently doing NCS! I got back from week one yesterday and I can’t even explain how amazing it was!!!

I wish I had more pictures to show you but I honestly didn’t get the chance to take many. The amount of stuff we did was insane! We did absailing, rock climbing, team problem solving, archery, a big hike, meteor shower spotting, camping, canoeing and team challenges! That was all in the space of 5 days!!

Also, the fact that you don’t know anyone in your team when you get there makes the first day pretty awkward but by the end of the second day, you’ll feel like a family!

I hate talking in front of people, I get so nervous and I usually just can’t do it. But by the second evening, I was stood in front of my team, who I’d known for under 48 hours, in my pyjamas, and spoke about being accident prone. It was the best feeling ever!!

My high point of the week was when we all met up here on the camping night:

And when it got completely pitch black there was a meteor shower! The sky was so clear and we all layed down and watch it together and it was just amazing!!

I can’t get over how awesome the past week has been! I love my team so much, the banter is so real and they’re all just lovely people!

I can’t wait for the next two weeks 😀

NCS is tomorrow!

I applied for NCS in March and the 10th August felt like an age away. At that point I still had mock exams, final exams, prom and Tenerife before the 10th August! Now it’s tomorrow?

If you’re unsure what NCS is then you can read my previous post about it here!
Or desire4beauty is currently doing it and she’s made some posts about her experience!

I’m so excited but also so nervous! I get so awkward with new people and I just hope I can make a good first impression. As long as I get through the first day okay it should be all good from there. The amount of youtube videos I’ve watched, of people filming their own NCS experience to get a feel of what I’ll be up to, is insane!!

I’m sure everyone will be lovely and I’ll make some brilliant new friends! Plus I already know someone who’s going at the same time as me so that’s comforting 😀

Wish me luck! I’ll let you all know how week one goes at the weekend!

NCS – The Challenge

In Britain, young people between the ages 15-17 are offered the chance to take part in an opportunity called NCS (National Citizen Service) – The Challenge. It is funded by the government but for placement purposes only, a deposit is needed of £50 but that covers everything and there will be no more additional costs.

NCS – The Challenge runs throughout every school holiday and offers fantastic activities to get us involved. It happens over 3 weeks and is split into 3 sections.

Section 1

A group of us who don’t know each other head off to somewhere like the Lake District, Scotland, Wales etc. To take part in various outdoor activities. These include Kayaking, Cliff Jumping, Hikes, Raft Building, Camping and so much more. We get to know each other well and stay there for 5 days before going home for the weekend.

Section 2

We head off to our local university and spend 5 days there living with our group. Throughout the 5 days we learn a new skill or develop an existing one that we have chosen such as photography, media, music, enterprise. We are also given a budget and we have to buy our own food and supplies, then cook our own meals. We then come home for the weekend again.

Section 3

We stay at home in the evenings during this section but in the day we make our own campaign to help the community. We come up with an idea, run with it and then showcase it at the end to provide evidence what we’ve been up to. After 4 days of this, the NCS trip is over and we are only left with graduation.

My point is that I have applied for this and my place on NCS – The Challenge for Summer was confirmed today. I am extremely nervous but also very excited because this is not the kind of thing that I would usually do. The socializing part is going to be the toughest for me, but I do not regret signing up because sometimes you need to take risks in order to get the best out of life.

To reflect what I just said, their slogan is “Just Say Yes” which is a powerful message to drive young people to take this risk in order to get something out of it.