Digital

DIGITAL NCS OFFERING ‘KEEP DOING GOOD’ PROVES A HIT WITH LOCAL TEENAGERS!

Teenagers from the North Kirklees Area recently benefited from the NCS ‘Keep Doing Good’ digital programme, delivered by the Huddersfield Town Foundation!

Six 15-17 year olds spent the two-week programme working on Social Action projects with several local charities, work that is particularly appreciated at this moment in time given the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

‘Keep Doing Good’ was delivered nationally by the National Citizens Service (NCS) and EFL Trust, with the Town Foundation facilitating sessions locally through its partnerships with other established charities.

Towards the start of the two-week period, Town Foundation staff and the participants came together via Google Meets to get to know each other better and look at personal development.

These sessions focused on different areas, including Expressing Yourself, Pride in your Local Area, Values, Personality Tests, Group Dynamics and Lockdown Reflections.

From there the group were briefed on the local partner charities they were set to work with – Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the Jo Cox Foundation, Natural Kirklees and Musica Kirklees.

This gave them a valuable insight into the impact the pandemic has had on charities, as well as learning about the work they have continued doing during recent months.

Participants were then tasked with a social action project on each day of the programme relating to each charity partner.

Some outstanding fundraising pack ideas were created to celebrate Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s 20th Birthday, before the group completed a Youth Voice project for the Jo Cox Foundation (JCF). The youngsters also contributed ideas for JCF’s 2020 Great Winter Get Together.

The Social Action week culminated with a task to create a new community feature for a local green space for Natural Kirklees, in addition to a creative arts project with Musica Kirklees to create a short musical piece or poem to send to someone in need.

On the programme’s success, Town Foundation NCS Coordinator Evan Hall commented:

“With local restrictions in Kirklees altering our original plans to deliver some actual volunteering, we adapted quickly to move online and are delighted with the engagement and high quality of work our young people produced for our charity partners.

“To hear the young people comment on how the programme helped them get back into a routine and feel productive after a difficult through months was very rewarding. We are grateful that we could contribute something to help our local area and to the national NCS Keep Doing Good effort!”

Participants who have completed the programme will receive an NCS e-Certificate to recognise their efforts, as well as a celebration bag from the Huddersfield Town Foundation.

In October the next cohort of 15-17-year olds will undertake the NCS programme with the Town Foundation.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact our Head of NCS and Health Maureen Quinn on maureen.quinn@htafcfoundation.com or 07741 671 066.