Saturday's Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon sees NCS take over the AESSEAL New York Stadium in celebration of the impact that young people from Rotherham have had on the programme.
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust deliver NCS in the local community, and they have organised the #NCSMatchday campaign to raise awareness of how it impacts on the lives of those aged 15-17 who take part.
On Saturday afternoon, a handful of Millers supporters who all spent their school holidays meeting new people, learning useful skills and giving back to their community will be in attendance as guests of the club. They will be around the AESSEAL New York Stadium to widen awareness of the programme, whilst they will also have the chance to interview members of the first team squad.
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 areas.
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 community.
Football fan and NCS graduate 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 happier 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, also said:
“I really believe that every young person should be part of NCS as 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 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.”
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.