Posted: 18/06/15
Glorious graduation for fabulous fundraisers
Community-minded teenagers have been praised for their successes and achievements on a national scheme supported by West Nottinghamshire College.
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Some of the graduates of the NCS Easter programme celebrate their achievements with deputy principal Patricia Harman
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Graduates and guests celebrate in style
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Easter programme graduates give the NCS scheme the thumbs-up
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A proud moment for graduates and partners
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Glamorous graduates capture the moment by taking 'selfies'
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Smiles all around at the glittering graduation
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Close friendships were formed on the Easter scheme
A glittering evening celebration at the college last week (Thursday 11 June, 2015) saw 21 young people graduate from the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.
NCS is a government-led initiative designed to support 16 and 17-year-olds in their transition to adulthood through residential projects and community-based activities.
Each participant was presented with a certificate of achievement by deputy principal Patricia Harman in front of proud friends and family.
It came after they took part in NCS’s Easter programme involving fundraising, physical challenges and team-building activities.
Dividing into two teams, the participants raised a combined £1,353 for local charities – the second-highest amount ever raised by a Nottinghamshire NCS group –through various money-spinning initiatives.
Team Turtle raised £327 for the John Eastwood Hospice Trust, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and The Hall Homeless Support Project, Mansfield, by staging an event dubbed ‘The Recycled Acts’ in the college’s Create Theatre boasting a magician, singer and ‘bin bag fashion show’, modelling clothes they had made from refuse sacks and recyclable materials.
Meanwhile, The Falcons raised £1,026 through bag-packing at Sainsbury’s, a cake sale, leg-waxing, a triathlon at Mansfield’s Oasis Health Club and a social night. Proceeds went to Woodside Farm Stables, Rainworth, which provides horse-riding therapy for people with disabilities.
Other activities enjoyed by both groups included a three-night excursion at the Foundry Adventure Centre in the Derbyshire Peak District, where they tested themselves through various outdoor challenges including abseiling, weaselling, hiking and an assault course.
NCS project manager at West Nottinghamshire College, Nigel Oldham, said: “These were some of the best young people we’ve ever had on the scheme. They worked amazingly well together and were so eager to make the most of this wonderful opportunity that it really was a pleasure to have them.
“Some of the participants have now volunteered to act as mentors to those on the summer programme, which is testament to how far they’ve come.”
