The experience that turns no you can’t into no we can
From 2016-2024, Activate delivered National Citizen Service (NCS), a national youth programme, as one of over 150 partner organisations.
Activate worked with NCS, delivering the life-changing experience for young people in 5 regions, the South West, Bedford, West Midlands, Surrey and the East Midlands.
Over that time, we have worked with over 8000 teenagers, helping them to realise their potential and smash their future goals.
Sadly, in 2025 the NCS programme was cut from government funding but we’re extremely proud of the thousands of young people we supported along the way!
What was NCS?
Designed for 16-17 year olds, NCS was a youth programme that ran every summer and autumn, during school holidays
Activate proudly partnered with NCS to deliver experiences that helped young people to become world ready and work ready, and raise their voice to make a positive difference together.
NCS was a programme all about helping young people explore who they are and who they want to be, with no fear of judgement or failure.
Where they could step out and step up, and get a taste of independence on their own terms.
A space for everyone to feel at home, no matter where they’re from.
To connect with other like-minds, learn new skills, make an impact in their community and better their employability.
NCS lets them say ‘No We Can’.
NCS experiences included:
CONNECT: a free digital hub filled with bitesize content – for young people and contributed to by young people – to navigate everyday life; from debates, life lessons and creative challenges, to showcasing young people’s social action, tips on how to positively impact communities, and ways to switch off and recharge
SUMMER: a two week experience where young people would come together to connect in real life and learn more about themselves, each other, and how to give back to their local community
AUTUMN: a one week experience where young people would come together to connect in real life and learn more about themselves, each other and how to give back to their local community
CHANGEMAKERS: regular group meetups throughout the year for young people all over the country to design and deliver social action projects and make a positive difference in their local community
FUTUREMAKERS: paid work placement experiences to help young people get work ready
SKILLS BOOSTER: tools and support for further education, college and schools to build meaningful and impactful personal development, volunteering and social action curriculums, with their pupils in line with the Government’s employability and ‘levelling-up’ agenda
YOUTH RISING: A podcast made for young people, by young people. Each episode tackles important issues that matter and have an impact on young people and their communities, breaking stereotypes around youth culture.
