Although they are rivals on the pitch for today’s Carabao Cup final clash, off the pitch, Chelsea FC Foundation and Liverpool FC Foundation share the same goal to support young people on the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.

Designed for 16-17-year-olds, NCS offers an inclusive summer programme that helps young people get the skills, experience, and self-belief they need to achieve their potential – and smash their future goals. NCS aims to make a life-changing difference to young people and how they approach life after school.

Chelsea Foundation

NCS has provided a life-changing experience for Alex.

At 18 years old, Alex found himself surrounded by uncertainty and a lack of structure. However, Alex’s decision to sign up to NCS last summer through the Chelsea Foundation was about to change all of that.

The first week provided Alex with opportunities he had never had before, which included one of his programme highlights, a tour around Stamford Bridge. The confidence building and public speaking workshop could not have come at a better time, giving Alex the chance to build his self-esteem and have his voice heard.

With his newfound confidence, Alex embraced the final phase of NCS which involved planning and delivering a project with his new friends on the course that would make a positive impact in the community.

The group volunteered their time at local food bank in Wandsworth, as well as rejuvenating a local community centre.Through NCS, Alex, has developed a new sense of purpose and now has the confidence to take his next steps. Alex said: ‘I have used the skills learnt from my NCS journey to apply for jobs and University places with the help of my tutors in year 13.

‘Recognising that I have been a part of NCS is a big part of my own personal development, which is something that future employers and peers can recognise.

‘NCS has made me better at working within a team, having the confidence to achieve my goals and step out my comfort zone, whilst it has also helped me to meet new friends, which I have made along my journey.’

Liverpool

Following an adrenalin-filled first week of outdoor activities, eight young people set to work on their social action project with a determination to spread positivity.

The group launched a kindness campaign within their school and community. They created canvas mural and t-shirts for students, hosted a peer-mentoring session where they made a collaborative art piece to communicate what kindness is, and finally they asked their fellow students to spread kindness to teachers by writing thank-you cards.The hard work didn’t stop there, as outside of schools they collected donations for White Chapel Centre, a local homeless charity, and made and sold cakes raising money or the charity. In total the group spent over 240 hours spreading kindness.

LFC Foundation have been working closely with Redbridge High School to help deliver and NCS programme that will and engage the aspirations of their students.