Harrow in the running for national volunteering award

Harrow's National Citizen Service (NCS) team has just been named as finalists in a prestigious national award ceremony for youth volunteers.

The borough has reached the final of the largest youth volunteering awards in the country for its work on the NCS programme over summer 2011. The success of that youth scheme has earned Harrow a place as one of just three national finalists in the vInspired National Awards.

The team has been shortlisted in the 'Most Outstanding NCS Team' category.

Harrow was among the first local authorities to pilot the service last summer in partnership with the V charity and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust. Harrow Council's children's services team ran an eight-week programme for 16-year-olds to learn new skills, make new friends and make a difference in their community. The group chose homelessness as their focus and carried out fundraising activities, including sponsored rough sleeping and fun days, raising hundreds of pounds for charity.

Portfolio holder for children's services, Cllr Mitzi Green said:

"Being nominated for a national award for the borough's work with young volunteers is a major boost to the work being done in Harrow to build united and involved communities."
"We were one of the first council's to pilot the National Citizen's Service and the results have been life changing for the young people involved. This scheme gave those who took part the opportunity and skills they needed to volunteer and give back to society. We will all reap the benefits."

Saad Deyoul from NCS Harrow said:

"Volunteering has given me the opportunity to share my ideas and my life experiences which could help someone learn from my mistakes."

Harrow council plans to run the successful youth scheme again this summer, anyone interested in finding out more about it should contact Ali Abdu, National Citizen Service Project Co-ordinator, Harrow on 0208 424 18 16.

Source: Harrow Council 

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