THE charity Community First is offering young people from across Wiltshire the chance to take part in a volunteering programme designed to provide them with valuable leadership skills and qualifications.

The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a government funded national volunteering programme for all 15-17 year olds.

Young people can apply now to become an ambassador for next year's programme.

It runs during July and August and provides opportunities for all young people regardless of any challenges they have faced and are facing in their lives.

A spokesman for Devizes-based Community First said: "The young people involved in the 2015 summer programme volunteered to undertake training from Community First in leadership and organisational skills.

"Initial training took place at the start of July and they became ambassadors for the service helping to deliver summer events for young people from Wiltshire – via the charity’s Youth Action Wiltshire arm.

"Over the five weeks of the programme young people are thrust into two action packed residentials, where they will overcome fears, challenge themselves, find out about who they are and learn the importance of team work and develop leadership.

"This then provides them with the confidence to gain employability and life skills in a supported environment away from their natural habitat. They gain qualifications in First Aid, Sports Leadership, and a Leadership Award."

Cleo Evans, Youth Action Wiltshire programme and volunteering coordinator, said: "The skills, energy, passion, enthusiasm, and leadership from our ambassadors is vital to the smooth running of our summer programme. They give up their time, to come and support our young people across all our projects to ensure everyone has a positive experience.

"All the ambassadors apply over the winter and go through an interview process. They have all just completed their first year in further education and embarking on their own career paths.

"Sometimes the ambassador programme can help get our young people back on track, others use it as a way to help develop career skills."

Elley Timmins, one of the young people taking part in the 2015 NCS programme, said: "I am so much more prepared and more confident about my role on NCS. I now know how to lead and support young people."

NCS ambassador Joseph Triki said: "This will really help me achieve my goals of volunteering overseas, and learning about empowering young people is something that will help develop my skills further. I am supporting the NCS programme this summer having graduated last summer from an NCS programme with Youth Action Wiltshire."

To find out more about the ambassador programme email:cleo@youthactionwiltshire.org or contact (01380) 729813.

Or to find out more about activities go to www.youthactionwiltshire.org or call 01380 729813.