My NCS Experience!

From Monday, 17th July 2017 until Friday, 4th August 2017, I completed the NCS programme, through my local provider: Nottingham Forest in the Community.

Phase 1:

Monday, 17th July 2017. I was packed and prepared.

I arrived at the Brian Clough Stand at the Nottingham Forest Football Club, along with my (extremely) large backpack, containing all the bits and pieces in which I would need for the week away.

All aboard the coach! Our wave took two coaches to the camp site, which took us over two hours to get to!

The camp site in which we visited was Tawd Vale Scout Camp, which is located just off the A5209, in West Lancashire. The site, upon arrival, was lovely. The tents were all pre-prepared, ready to house six teenagers per tent, for a week.

Each tent had two, separate sleeping pods, holding three people in each side, along with an area in the centre for people's belongings.

I liked the camp site, as there was a large space in between the girl's and boy's sleeping areas, called the 'Meeting Field', where people chilled out in the limited hot weather in which we had. However, at some points during the week, there was torrential rain, which made the camp site incredibly muddy, as well as limiting the amount of people who came out of their tents to socialise!

However, after the rainy spells had passed, people came out of their tents and began talking to each other again, even if the ground was muddy and the air was damp!

Some of the adventurous activities at Tawd Vale included...

• High Ropes

• Tree Climbing

• Expedition

• Orienteering

• Quiz

• Canoeing

...and lots more!

Scroll through the slideshow below to see the tree climbing and the high ropes!

High Ropes

Tree Climbing

Tree Climbing

Tree Climbing

Tree Climbing

Further to this, we were allowed some 'free time'. In our 'free time', we, in small groups, decided to explore Tawd Vale's camp site, as well as chill-out on the 'Meeting Field', and spend time with our teams in our tents.

Each evening, everyone sat around the campfire, while we were told which activities we would be taking part in the next day. Further to this, on the first night, some of us toasted marshmallows over the campfire.

On the final night, all of the groups joined together for the final time to have a mini-disco around the campfire. Lots of the team leaders and camp mates joined in with their spectacular dance moves!

Phase one ended in a spectacular fashion, with my group's leader and a member of the group having a race, to see who was fastest!

As seen here, the 'Masterful Martin' was no match for the 'Colossal Chris' and his super speeds!

All in all, Phase one of my NCS experience was one I will never forget!

Phase 2:

Nottingham University. Sherwood Halls. 10 am.

At the University of Nottingham, we each had our own room, which included a sink, mini-fridge, desk, chair and places to store clothes, along with a bed and a lamp. As well as this, we had a kettle and a cup, for making hot drinks - which was amazing!

On the first day of being at the University, to help us get to know our way around the campus, the team leaders set us a photography task - which went some-what well! We, as a team, were given a list of actions and a list of locations, and we had to complete as many actions in the locations given as we could, in the allotted time. If the NCS logo was in the picture also, we would gain more points for our team! Below are some of our awesome attempts!

Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge

Other activities included:

• Orienteering

• Workshops

• Sports Day

• Robot Wars

• Buggy Building and Racing

• End of Week Disco

In my opinion, the 'Robot Wars' activity was the best, as everyone got involved in creating armour for the robot. The robot then proceeded to, after being blindfolded, crawl around on the floor, attempting to find water balloons to throw at opposing teams - this, however, did not go according to plan, as many water balloons were popped before they were thrown at the other teams!

Robot Wars

Sports Day

Sports Day

Sports Day

Sports Day

Sports Day

Everyone enjoyed the end of week disco! It was a terrific end to a week at the University. It was, once again, another week of fun, games and laugher, and everyone had such a fun time!

Phase 3:

Phase three had arrived! Social Action!

For the first of the two weeks, the team and I met up at the Pitch Diner at the Nottingham Forest Football Stadium, to plan the events in which we would be running, and to decide upon which charity or organisation we were going to help.

We decided, after some negotiation, that we were going to be raising awareness for the charity 'NG:She' and to raise awareness and vital funds for the charity 'Equation'. Both 'NG:She' and 'Equation' are charities that raise awareness, and support victims of domestic abuse.

However, before we could complete any fundraising/awareness raising activities and events, we had to present our thoughts and ideas to two 'Dragons' and one of the Nottingham Forest in the Community's NCS leaders. One of the 'Dragons' used to be the head of the NHS, and was a privilege to be able to meet him, and present the team's ideas to him, to help the local community.

We decided that one way to raise money for 'Equation' would be to complete a sponsored row/cycle/run from Nottingham to Newcastle. The distance between these two points is 140 miles, and therefore, each team member, including the team leader and mentor, would have to complete 10 miles in order for us to reach our desired target!

After completing the 60 hours needed to pass our Social Action project, including the 140 mile route (at a local gym!), handing out leaflets for 'Equation', and after raising funds at a tuck shop at another NCS wave's disco, we raised a total of £50, which will be used by 'Equation' to develop and deliver more workshops in areas in which 'Equation' have noted are more likely to be 'at risk'.

'NG:She' have thanked us, as have 'Equation' in our Social Action attempts, and both say that they are greatful for the work in which we have done for them!

Now, all we have to do, is wait for the Graduation! Roll on Thursday, 7th September 2017!

Since NCS:

Since my NCS journey, I have applied to become a 'Regional Youth Board' member, as I loved NCS, and want to be able to make NCS the best that it can be for others, who may be taking part in the programme in future years.

Ed

Special thanks to everyone who has featured in this post, as without them, I would not have been able to take the pictures, to remember such a once in a lifetime journey, so THANK YOU!

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