ROTHERHAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB CELEBRATES TEENS’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTHERHAM COMMUNITY
This Saturday 15th February, RUFC will celebrate the impact that young people from Rotherham have had on NCS, a youth programme aimed at 15-17 year olds.
The awareness raising campaign, #NCSMatchday, organised by Rotherham United Community Sport Trust, who deliver NCS in the community of Rotherham. On the day a handful of lucky Rotherham fans - who all spent their school holidays meeting new people, learning new skills and giving back to their community through the NCS programme - will be attending the game as special guests of the Club to raise awareness of NCS and interview the first team players. In 2019, young people from EFL Trust’s network delivered over 650 Social Action Projects, volunteered over 260,000 hours of social action and raised over £230,000 for local charities and causes.
The event, supported by Rotherham United and Rotherham United Community Sport Trust, will be part of a wider EFL Trust (Charitable Arm of EFL) campaign that will see #NCSMatchday reach over 36 EFL and Premier League clubs across the country, highlighting the positive work that young people have done in their local community.
In 2019, #NCSMatchday reached over 2 million people, with over 450 football players across the country celebrating NCS and the young people who have given back to the local community.
Football fan and NCS grad Yasmin Aziz, 17, from Rotherham said:
"I would definitely encourage anyone who feels nervous about NCS to be the first to sign up. The experience of NCS itself genuinely helped me to be less anxious about new opportunities, because it showed me just how good they can be.
The strangers I met during NCS became great friends, and the friends I brought with me became family.
Days like this really help to motivate young people to sign up.
The NCS experience introduced me to the boundaries of my comfort zone, and then threw me fifty yards west of it! I couldn't be gladder that I did it. Everyone I've spoken to has expressed just how much stronger they feel as a result.”
Richard Wood, Rotherham United Captain, who is a big supporter of the programme, said:
“I really believe that every young person should be part of NCS, it is an amazing opportunity and I really look forward to celebrating all the great work local teens have done in the community whilst being on the programme.
NCS is a fantastic programme that gives young people the chance to expand their horizons by getting involved in new activities and challenges, whilst also making great friends and benefiting our local area.”
NCS is a flagship government initiative that provides young people aged 15-17 the chance to take on new challenges, experience exciting activities, make long-lasting friendships and develop vital skills that will support them later in life. Supporting young people’s transition to adulthood, the programme develops their strength of character, giving a sense of purpose, optimism and belonging.
Almost 600,000 young people have completed the NCS programme to date, giving up an incredible 14.5 million hours to social action projects since NCS started. To find out more and sign up, visit: www.wearencs.com.