Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made the effectiveness of the National Citizen Service Innovation Programme.

The NCS innovation programme was established in 2017 to identify new ways to grow and improve NCS, and to increase value for money for taxpayers. The programme is administered and evaluated by NCS Trust.

Early pilots have demonstrated some positive impacts. For example, a pilot run in conjunction with the Behavioural Insights Team found that young people who are given a “buddy” before NCS are up to 6% more likely to turn up on programme, reducing unfilled places and unit cost. Another found that when specialist one-to-one support was provided to young people with complex needs, including young people referred through social services, Youth Offending services or Looked After Children services, 72% were able to complete NCS, which brings this group into line with average completion rates.

In 2018, NCS Trust will continue to pilot and evaluate new ways to improve the programme, including through new partnerships with sector organisations such as the Scouts and Sea Cadets.