Last Friday I was at Millais School to meet a young people who are part of this summer’s National Citizens Service. All the students were 15-17 and from West Sussex.
They were already 3 weeks in to the programme which starts with a week’s adventure training. This establishes firm bonds within the groups – most of whom have never met each other before the course. There are good practical reasons for wanting to be part of the scheme – including meeting others and enhancing a “CV” and there is nothing wrong with that! However every one of those I spoke to was genuinely keen to do their bit to help others.
Every year the teams decide for themselves who they wish to support. Last year the local teams conducted a project around mental health in young people – a huge issue then and now. This year every group choose to work with Age UK.
The reasons given were unequivocal – a desire to help the older generation combined with a realisation that there was so much of value that could be learned in doing so.
All the teams competed in a “Dragons Den” competition to secure financial support for their ideas as to help Age UK locally. Ideas included social events for older pensioners through to a revamp of the garden at Lavinia House – offering help with weeding, replanting and painting a mural.
The presentations were extremely professionally delivered and heart felt. No one attending would be anything other than impressed with this year’s participants.
The UK Olympics team has boasted many very young competitors through to the very young-at-heart 58 year old show jumping gold medalist Nick Skelton! However you don’t need to go all the way to Rio to find committed and determined young people. To see this degree of interest in maintaining active links and connectivity between the generations is a very positive sign. Over the last twenty years alone life expectancy at birth in West Sussex has increased from 76 to 82 the trend is set to continue – maintaining links, understanding and mutual support will be become evermore important.