Northern supports Yorkshire’s National Citizen Service Volunteers

During the past year the rail operator has supported hundreds of young people to complete the National Citizen Service (NCS).  

The NCS is a youth programme for 16 and 17-year-olds which offers volunteering opportunities to empower young people and teach life skills.  

Northern has a longstanding relationship with the NCS and works with the scheme to connect young people to their communities with the help of the rail industry. The NCS theme for 2021 is ‘No. We. Can.’ - a phrase it encourages its participants to use if they are every feeling overwhelmed. 

Projects this year have included refurbishing the garden at Driffield station and creating a mural at Beverley station, while young people from Bradford City Football Club Community Foundation helped refugees navigate their way through Bradford using public transport networks.  

Northern also worked alongside community groups and charities including Huddersfield Town Foundation, Rotherham United Football Club, Tiger’s Trust, and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation to provide support and free travel to those taking part in the scheme.  

Tony Baxter, Regional Director at Northern said: “For many of the young people involved in NCS, this was the first time they had used public transport and we are pleased to be able to encourage and empower the next generation to use the railway to access their communities and to make a difference.  

“We’re pleased to be able to support NCS and the work they do and to deliver such a wide-ranging positive impact for the north of England.” 

Dom Stingas Paczko, Head of NCS at the EFL Trust, said: “We really value the partnership with Northern.

"Not only does it provide vital transport links to enable young people to participate in this life changing programme, it also supports our participants whilst on NCS to develop key life skills, especially those valued by employers.”