:00:19. > :00:24.Have witnessed the programmd first hand and have built strong
:00:25. > :00:28.relationships with the NCS trust. I pay particular tribute to the noble
:00:29. > :00:33.Lord Lord Blunkett to his stpport which was so very important in the
:00:34. > :00:37.early days of NCS. This cross-party support has given us a uniqte
:00:38. > :00:43.opportunity to put young people are first and put NCS beyond thd reach
:00:44. > :00:47.of petty party politics. Second NCS trusts have the flexibility to
:00:48. > :00:53.respond rapidly to feedback and adapt to change. My Lords, that we
:00:54. > :00:56.know that Government by its very nature moves slowly and is often
:00:57. > :01:04.difficult to get things dond. Quickly and effectively. Instead of
:01:05. > :01:09.taking an inordinate amount of time, it takes a matter of minutes and the
:01:10. > :01:14.NCS trust. Finally, NCS has had the freedom to attract and retahn
:01:15. > :01:18.world-class talent. It needs to appeal to young people to shgn up
:01:19. > :01:22.voluntarily and are therefore have to build the brand that resonates
:01:23. > :01:25.with them. It's hard to devdlop innovative way to reach teenagers
:01:26. > :01:31.and communities across the country. But talented individuals employed by
:01:32. > :01:35.all sectors by the NCS trust have taken it to the fill skilled
:01:36. > :01:40.programmer is today. It is vital to secure the NCS for the long,term. To
:01:41. > :01:43.ensure that future generations have the chance to take part in this
:01:44. > :01:48.phenomenal programme. We must continue to support the hundreds of
:01:49. > :01:51.local voluntary organisations across the country. They have done an
:01:52. > :01:56.incredible job to deliver hhgh quality impressive experience to
:01:57. > :01:59.children for whom it has had an enormous impact and who might
:02:00. > :02:04.otherwise never have had such an opportunity. My own visit to
:02:05. > :02:08.Parliament hill school was `n enlightening experience, School hols
:02:09. > :02:11.are buzzed with happy and enthusiastic teenagers who were just
:02:12. > :02:14.home from their first week `way with the NCS. They couldn't wait to tell
:02:15. > :02:18.the stories and had great friendships that would endure. Seen
:02:19. > :02:21.first-hand the reality of how we can change people's lives makes it all
:02:22. > :02:26.the more important to ensurd that the bill creates a proper framework
:02:27. > :02:31.to deliver NCS in the futurd. I must urge that we consider the changes
:02:32. > :02:34.that the bill introduces with care. NCS flourished when it was freed
:02:35. > :02:38.from the dead hand of Government bureaucracy and we need to protect
:02:39. > :02:42.as far as possible its independence. NCS must be able to operate in an
:02:43. > :02:46.innovative way and attract the right people to run it and not be brought
:02:47. > :02:50.back down in an excessive process that makes unable to respond as
:02:51. > :02:55.quickly and effectively as has been able to do thus far. There `re some
:02:56. > :02:59.elements of the bill with which I have concerns. There are a number of
:03:00. > :03:02.extra and potentially onerots reporting requirements. The
:03:03. > :03:08.Government's ability to apply to both Ajax and the nonexecuthve
:03:09. > :03:14.directors, an issue raised by both the noble lord, Lord Blunkett, could
:03:15. > :03:19.also prove problematic. I'vd fully appreciate this process but my
:03:20. > :03:24.experience Government of thd public appointments process demonstrated
:03:25. > :03:29.all too often the process dhd not give sensible outcomes. It hs vital
:03:30. > :03:34.that NCS continues to attract the excellent and entrepreneuri`l talent
:03:35. > :03:37.that has so far managed to do. I also have reservations about an
:03:38. > :03:42.official on the board who whll not have gone through and appointments
:03:43. > :03:46.process and will have the ability to unilaterally V2 pay arrangelents. I
:03:47. > :03:51.hope that any such powers are proportionate and require proper
:03:52. > :03:54.accountability. I look forw`rd to working with the noble lord and
:03:55. > :03:58.Minister and other noble lord the committee stage to address `ny
:03:59. > :04:04.concerns and ensure that thd NCS trust is set up to remain true to
:04:05. > :04:07.its original purpose, be able to adapt quickly and this would lead to
:04:08. > :04:16.new challenges and to becomd a part of the fabric of our nation. It does
:04:17. > :04:20.give me a great pleasure to support this wonderful bells. I say that
:04:21. > :04:26.because today and bring to speak to you about the policy on procedure
:04:27. > :04:30.and what it feels like the xoung people on the ground. I say this
:04:31. > :04:32.because it gives me the opportunity to highlight the excellent work
:04:33. > :04:39.being undertaken by the Nathonal Citizen service in my own thme. Work
:04:40. > :04:48.I know is also happening in many towns up and down this country.
:04:49. > :04:52.Warrington has been deliverhng NCS programme since 2012. It is
:04:53. > :05:00.currently in partnership with Bolton, which I know my noble
:05:01. > :05:03.friend, is president so we have an allegiance together. It is ` really,
:05:04. > :05:10.really good service that both of these clubs provide. A national
:05:11. > :05:16.provider for charity. Since 201 over 1500 young people have
:05:17. > :05:20.completed the programme in Warrington. Those who are
:05:21. > :05:25.responsible for organising the NCS in Warrington and Balsam tell me
:05:26. > :05:27.that the service provider opportunities for personal growth
:05:28. > :05:32.and development for the young people from across Warrington and Bolton.
:05:33. > :05:38.It prides itself on recruithng young people from a wide range of
:05:39. > :05:42.backgrounds. In Warrington, that has provided a platform for young people
:05:43. > :05:48.to form friendships which otherwise would have been unlikely to happen
:05:49. > :05:53.and created. It's accessibld for all young people aged 16 to 17 `nd the
:05:54. > :05:58.majority of the programmes `re aimed at working with children, young
:05:59. > :06:04.people and families from ardas of deprivation. The NCS recognhse that
:06:05. > :06:10.one of the most common issuds faced by young people is low confhdence
:06:11. > :06:15.and low self-esteem. With the past four years, they have observed many
:06:16. > :06:21.young people attending on d`y one of the programme with the hood up, head
:06:22. > :06:26.down and grouchy. After not even having the confidence to give their
:06:27. > :06:31.name for registration, following the first week of the programme when
:06:32. > :06:36.they are faced with the outdoor pursuits, along with 40 othdr young
:06:37. > :06:41.people, who they don't know, they become far more confident and look
:06:42. > :06:45.forward to the following wedk of the programme. What is most wonderful at
:06:46. > :06:49.the end of the programme, all of the young people take part in a
:06:50. > :06:54.graduation event. Something that they've never ever gone through in
:06:55. > :06:59.their young lives. Firmly hd's giving a speech at one of these
:07:00. > :07:03.events, what is most humbling to see is not only hear the young people
:07:04. > :07:09.speak with confidence of thdir experience but is to see thdir
:07:10. > :07:17.families look at them for the first time ever with pride in thehr ayes.
:07:18. > :07:22.In 2016, 375 young people h`ve completed the NCS programme and have
:07:23. > :07:30.collectively raised ?16,000 plus for a wide variety of local causes.
:07:31. > :07:35.Through their social action progress had a very positive impact on the
:07:36. > :07:38.lives of the local people in their communities because it is the
:07:39. > :07:46.communities they are helping and we need to encourage this wherdver we
:07:47. > :07:50.go. Over 85% of young peopld who are taking part in the programmd have
:07:51. > :07:58.themselves become volunteers and members of staff working with
:07:59. > :08:02.children and young people. This type of activity charges the manx
:08:03. > :08:07.negative portrayals in the ledia of our young people. That is why I
:08:08. > :08:13.wanted to ensure that Warrington are a safer and better place th`n the
:08:14. > :08:18.young people to live and to improve facilities and opportunities for
:08:19. > :08:23.education and life skills. Such positivity through the NCS has
:08:24. > :08:27.developed and strengthened further links in local businesses. H'm
:08:28. > :08:31.delighted to say that during the summer, the programme betwedn
:08:32. > :08:36.Warrington and Bolton, 12 dhfferent businesses had direct input to this
:08:37. > :08:41.programme. A local engineerhng company undertake a building
:08:42. > :08:45.challenge which tested the youngster's ability in
:08:46. > :08:51.communication, in how to pl`n, negotiate and engineer a project and
:08:52. > :08:57.the feedback from these companies was an absolute pleasure, ftn,
:08:58. > :09:02.lifting, inspiring and most importantly, humbling. My Lords
:09:03. > :09:07.this is just a small snapshot of what the NCS does in partnership
:09:08. > :09:10.with local businesses, making the NCS experienced link direct to the
:09:11. > :09:15.world of work and creates otr entrepreneurs. I would like to share
:09:16. > :09:21.a story with you from Jordan in his own words because we are talking
:09:22. > :09:25.about young people so I'd lhke you to listen in their voice. Jordan
:09:26. > :09:31.says, when I was 11, I becale a young carer for my mum who has
:09:32. > :09:37.clinical depression and my xounger sister who has ADHD and authsm. He
:09:38. > :09:43.didn't leave me a lot of frde time. I used to be really shy, wotldn t
:09:44. > :09:49.speak to many people. School was so measurable for me. I used to get
:09:50. > :09:53.bullied a lot. I used to get really upset, come home angry everx night
:09:54. > :09:57.and argue with my mum. This would lead to me storming out every night
:09:58. > :10:05.between being bullied, stress at home and at school, I was going
:10:06. > :10:11.through a really difficult period. Warrington youth cup with their and
:10:12. > :10:18.helped me so much. The staff at the youth club were fantastic. H'd been
:10:19. > :10:29.coming to the youth club I `lways felt safe and most importantly
:10:30. > :10:33.supported they made me laugh when I didn't want to smile. Whethdr I
:10:34. > :10:40.wanted a game of football are just a chat, they were always therd for me.
:10:41. > :10:44.Jordan concluded that they should have a pay rise but that's tp to the
:10:45. > :10:51.boss. Warrington and Bolton are leading the way for the young
:10:52. > :10:54.people. These are subjects very close to my heart. My first
:10:55. > :10:58.community involvement was in response to anti-social beh`viour in
:10:59. > :11:05.my local neighbourhood in Warrington. This behaviour dnded
:11:06. > :11:11.tragically with my husband being beaten to death by a gang of youths.
:11:12. > :11:15.Today, there are too many pdople across the country who suffdr DN and
:11:16. > :11:24.day out, the mystery of anth-social behaviour and this is this hs from
:11:25. > :11:29.low self-esteem and all too often, few opportunities. There ard very
:11:30. > :11:33.young people in Warrington `nd Bolton the NCS is reaching out to. I
:11:34. > :11:38.would like to ask my noble friend the Minister whilst this bill goes
:11:39. > :11:43.through, could he ensured that recruitment is one of the bhggest
:11:44. > :11:47.challenges and please ensurd that schools and colleges understand that
:11:48. > :11:52.the NCS programme and the htge benefits has very young people. They
:11:53. > :11:55.need to actively promote to ensure more at young people enjoy the
:11:56. > :12:05.benefits of recruiting to the NCS programme. Universities and
:12:06. > :12:10.employers enable the young people to gain more strength in discussing the
:12:11. > :12:30.NCS in their interviews and have more chance of gaining in climate.
:12:31. > :12:39.You will be as proud as punch as I am of what Warrington and Bolton do.