WIRRAL STUDENTS RECOGNISED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY AT CHESTER CATHEDRAL

Students from the Sixth Form College in Birkenhead attended a glittering ceremony at Chester Cathedral to graduate from the National Citizenship Scheme (NCS).

NCS is a Government programme which is available to young people across England and Northern Ireland aged 15 – 17. The programme provides opportunities for young people to develop new skills, meet new people and make a difference to their local community.

The students from the Sixth Form College were part of a group of 199 students who completed the autumn cohort of the NCS programme. The Youth Federation, the charity which supports young people up to the age of 25 and youth groups in Wirral, Cheshire, Halton, Merseyside, Staffordshire, and Wolverhampton delivers the NCS programme. 

Chris Marchant, Wirral NCS Coordinator for the Youth Federation said: “The NCS programme encourages young people to drive positive change in our communities and the graduation ceremony recognised the fundamental role each of the students from the Sixth Form College in Birkenhead has played in Wirral. The Sixth Form Collegestudents nominated a local charity and worked to raise funds. A total of £4,500 was raised by the 199 NCS graduates – who volunteered more than 5970 hours of their time. The ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate the students’ contribution to society and I would strongly recommend the programme to all young people in Wirral.”

Charities which have benefitted from the money raised by the students of the Sixth Form College include Claire House Children’s Hospice and Team George – set up  to benefit George Johnson - a four-year-old boy from Wallasey who suffers from a rare condition that means that he has to be fed through a tube to his heart.

Students from the Sixth Form College also participated on a five day residential break during which the members were able to meet like-minded people. Students also attended a full programme of training ranging from First Aid training to Child Exploitation Online Protection training (CEOP).

Principal Kathryn Podmore said: “The NCS programme provides life changing experiences to young people whilst benefitting Wirral charities. The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead places great focus on leadership and community ethos alongside academic achievements. The National Citizen Service programme combines all of these attributes.”