Your NCS SUMMER experience starts on 3 rd August! Congratulations on booking an experience this summer that ll make you feel UNSTOPPABLE. You ll enjoy an incredible journey where you ll meet new people, discover new things and build the skills to get ahead in life. It ll be a summer to remember, in which you ll say goodbye to all that exam stress and say hello to adventure, fun and freedom!
Key Dates please see the next few pages for specific programme details and the back page for specific venue details. Thurs 26 th July Meet Your Team: A chance to meet your team mates. Fri 3 rd Aug Sat 4 th Aug Sun 5 th Aug Mon 6 th Aug Tues 7 th Aug Phase One: Adventure: Five days and four nights staying at an outward bound centre. Fri 10 th Aug Sat 11 th Aug Sun 12 th Aug Mon 13 th Aug Phase Two: Skills residential: Five days and four nights living in University-style accommodation in Newcastle. Tues 14 th Aug Fri 17 th Aug Sat 18 th Aug Sun 19 th Aug Mon 20 th Aug Tues 21 st Aug Fri 24 th Aug Sat 25 th Aug Sun 26 th Aug Mon 27 th Aug Tues 28 th Aug Phase Three: Social Action: Spend two weeks with your team planning and delivering a killer social action project that will make a real difference to your local area. Plan your idea, pitch it to the Dragons Den and then put it all into action. 10am 4.30pm each day. Thur 13 th September Phase Four: Celebration
Meet Your Team: Thursday 26 th July Before you set off on your UNSTOPPABLE NCS adventure, we would like to invite you to a Welcome Event to meet your team and ask any burning questions. 6pm-7.30pm at Cedarwood Trust (see back page for venue details) Just yourself! Phase 1: Adventure: Friday 3 rd Tuesday 7 th August On Phase One, it's time to challenge yourself! Living with your team at Langdale YHA in Ambleside, you'll get to know some amazing people and enjoy some quality time away from home. The best part? You'll find yourself in a group of 15 incredible people you've never met before people who will change your life and whose lives you'll change. In your team, you'll get the chance to take on some adrenaline-fuelled challenges like gorge scrambling, kayaking and mountain adventure. Meet your team at Cedarwood Trust at 10am on Friday. You will be dropped back off at Cedarwood Trust at approximately 2.30pm on Tuesday. Please see the kit list provided. Don t forget to bring a packed lunch and a drink for the first day. We ask that you do not bring any foods containing nuts. Phase 2: Skills: Friday 10 th Tuesday 14 th August Now's your chance to discover something new! You'll be reunited with your group sharing a flat at Liberty Central in Newcastle where you ll develop life skills like confidence, leadership and communication to boost your CV or UCAS personal statement. You ll find yourself cooking, debating, sharing ideas and even setting up your own business! Meet your team at 10am at Liberty Central on Friday (see back page for venue details). The week will finish at 3pm on Tuesday. Bring whatever clothes, toiletries and medication you need for five days. You will also need to bring a towel, pillow and duvet/sleeping bag. Please avoid bringing any valuable as we cannot be responsible for their safety! Don t forget to bring a packed lunch and a drink for the first day. We ask that you do not bring any foods containing nuts.
Phase 3: Social Action: Friday 17 th -Tuesday 21 st and Friday 24 th -Tuesday 28 th August It's time to make your mark! This is where your NCS experience all comes together. All the fun and inspiration from the first two phases means you're ready to step up and deliver your very own social action project. You and your team have the power to change the world around you. Whether you're a thinker or a doer, this is your chance to make a difference, have some amazing stories to tell, and be part of something you'll never forget! Meet your team at Cedarwood Trust at 10am on Friday 17 th August. This will be your base for the first week. You will need to make your own arrangements for getting to and from the centre. Each day will run from 10am 4.30pm. You will complete a total of 60 hours volunteering over the two weeks. During this phase you will need to provide your own packed lunch, or bring money to buy something. Phase 4 : Celebration: Thursday 13 th September It's time to celebrate in style. We think it's only right that you and your team should enjoy a well-earned reward for doing something truly inspirational in your community. At the end of your NCS experience, you're now part of the bigger NCS family. This is only just the beginning! You'll get exclusive access to potential volunteering opportunities and apprenticeships as well as amazing discounts and big events! Once an NCSer, always an NCSer. 7pm-9pm at The Linskill Centre (see back page for venue details) Food will be provided but you might want to bring some money for (nonalcoholic) drinks. Oh yes. bring two guests too!
Phase One Residential Kit List: The following clothing and kit is recommended for your first residential. Please check to see if you have all of the items identified on this list. If not, don t worry, please get in touch and we will come up with a solution!! A selection of sizes of all items marked * can be provided by the outdoor centre, but to ensure a good fit and comfortable wear it is advised to bring your own personal items if you have them. Clothing Required: Waterproof Jacket * and Waterproof Trousers * Walking Boots * and old trainers (thick soles not plimsolls - will get wet & muddy) Change of footwear for evenings T-shirts, synthetic (e.g. football tops) or thermal tops (not cotton) Long sleeved fleece or sweater Tracksuit bottoms Thick socks/walking socks (not cotton) Swimming costume or clothes you don t mind getting wet Wellington boots Pyjamas Underwear Kit Required: Packed lunch and drink for day one (please do not bring any food containing nuts) Small rucksack * Toiletries Towel Sun cream and insect repellent as necessary Personal medications Ear plugs if you want a good night s sleep! Please be advised: Clothing, footwear and equipment will become wet and dirty during the residential Denim jeans are not ideal for any of the activities Walking boots are recommended to have good tread and ankle support Personal item (e.g. cameras, phones, jewellery etc.) are not covered by our insurance and although you may wish to bring valuable items, this is at your own risk. For week two you will need to bring whatever clothes, toiletries and medication you need for five days. You will also need to bring a packed lunch, towel, pillow and duvet/sleeping bag.
Staying Safe VODA is committed to promoting your welfare and keeping you safe whilst on NCS. Your team will be supported by a dedicated Team Leader and Mentor, employed to keep you safe, make sure you have fun and ensure you challenge yourself throughout the programme. Your Team Leader and Mentor are also there to support you with any problems you might be facing. If you don t feel comfortable telling your Leader or Mentor something, you should speak to another member of staff or contact Robin Fry at VODA (details on back page). Whilst on NCS you can expect all staff to: * Listen to and respect you at all times * Value and take your contributions seriously * Ensure their language is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory * Provide examples of good conduct they expect you to follow * Contact VODA's Designated Safeguarding Officer if they believe that you or someone else is at risk of harm *Use VODA s Safeguarding procedures to share concerns with other agencies (involving yourself, parents and carers appropriately) Staff must not arrange to have contact with young people outside of the NCS programme or share their personal contact details with young people (including details of social media accounts). If you have concerns about the behaviour of any members of staff please contact us immediately on 0191 643 2626 or email robin.fry@voda.org.uk
Behaviour code for young people This code is intended to ensure your safety and wellbeing and outline the potential consequences of poor behaviour. Whilst on the NCS programme all young people are expected to: * listen to others and cooperate in a helpful and friendly manner * treat others with respect * make an effort to take part in all activities * arrive on time and stay for the duration of the session * respect other people s property * report anything that worries them to a member of staff immediately Whilst in the care of VODA you must not engage in any of the following behaviours or else you may be permanently removed from the programme without notice. * bullying behaviour - picking on or ridiculing others * being abusive verbally or physically to others * being under the influence of, or in possession of, alcohol or illegal substances * engaging in any sexual activity * leaving the activity site without notifying a member of staff Attendance You are expected to fully attend all phases of the programme to graduate. A request for a single day absence may be approved by VODA, but you may be required to make up any missed hours in order to graduate and receive your NCS Certificate. Absence requests for more than one day cannot be approved by VODA and will be referred to NCS NE for further consideration.
Contact Details Should you need to contact us before, during, or after the programme please use the details below: For any queries before the programme starts, or after it has finished please contact Robin Fry at VODA on: Tel: 0191 643 2626 Text: 07860 021 262 Email: robin.fry@voda.org.uk Facebook: VODA Summer 2018 (closed group for young people and parents) During the programme each Team Leader will have a mobile number that you can contact them on. You will be advised of this number at the Welcome Event. Please note this number will only be active during programme hours and will not be answered during the evenings or on weekends. Venue Details Cedarwood Trust, Avon Avenue, Meadow Well, North Shields, NE29 7QT 0191 2590245, http://www.cedarwoodtrust.co.uk Langdale YHA, High Close Cottage, Loughrigg, Ambleside LA22 9HJ 0345 371 9748, https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-langdale Liberty Central, Byron St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1XH 0191 580 2320 Linskill Centre, 42 Linskill Terrace, North Shields NE30 2A 0191 257 8000, https://www.linskillcentre.co.uk