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NCS 2015 Parent FAQs

  • Where can I find the the dates for the programme?
    Summer 2015 dates can be found on the main NCS page, your son/daughter will be allocated to a set of wave dates.
  • What should a parent/guardian do if their son/daughter can’t attend?
    Please let us know as soon as possible if your son/daughter cannot attend so that we can make the space available to someone else.
  • Can parents and guardians visit during the NCS programme?
    During the summer programme parents and guardians are invited to attend ‘The Parents Showcase’ event at the end of the thirdweek. Parents and guardians are also invited to attend the graduation event.
  • How will participants travel?
    Participants will travel to and from the outdoor adventure site (week 1) and the local residential (week 2) by a specially hired coach which will depart from Chesterfield College (details will be provided in their joining instructins). It is the participants responsibility to travel to and from the meeting points. Participants will be accompanied by staff when travelling during the programme.
  • What ratio of staff to participants is there?
    The programme has a high staff ratio of 2 staff members for every 15 participants.  Participants will progress through the programme in teams of between 12-15, with each team supported by a Team Leader, Team Mentor and Team Volunteer (week dependent) to ensure that all needs are catered for throughout the duration of the programme.
  • What happens if a participant is homesick?
    Should a participant become homesick, we would look to find the best possible solution with both the participant and parent/guardian. We would discuss the issue with both parties and do all we can to help the participant complete the programme.
  • How do you make sure the programme is safe for young people?
    Future Foundations takes the safety of all young people and staff involved in programmes very seriously. All our activities are risk assessed and young people are supervised by staff.
  • Is the NCS programme inclusive for all young people?
    We are committed to making the programme accessible to as many young people as possible. We are able to accommodate a large range of special needs as long as we are informed of them during the application process. If you would like to discuss any questions regarding inclusivity, then please contact a member of the Future Foundations NCS management team at ncs@future-foundations.co.uk or on 0203 432 3450.
  • What should my son/daughter bring?
    Please see the kit list in the welcome pack which will be sent to your son/daughter once they have confirmed they accept their allocated place.
  • Do you insure personal belongings?
    We are not able to insure personal belongings brought onto the programme. For this reason, we do not recommend that participants bring any expensive pieces of equipment or unnecessary valuables on to the programme (e.g. mobile phones, jewellery, electronics). Participants do so at their own risk and FF will not be held liable in the event that any item or money goes missing.
  • What food is provided?
  • We provide all food while on rresidentialsand lunch during non-residential days. Participants will need to being a packed lunch on the first day. We can cater to most dietary requirements so please let us know as soon as possible so we can make arrangements.
  • Can my son/daughter miss part of the programme?
    Young people need to attend the entire programme (4 weeks, Monday to Friday) to graduate. They will enjoy the programme much more if they are able to attend the whole programme and fully participate in their team’s project. There may be come cases that we allow participants to miss a day, please email us before the programme to discuss.
  • What happens if my son/daughter misbehaves during the programme?
    We work hard to ensure all young people have a safe and enjoyable time on NCS. Young people are asked to agree to our code of conduct when they accept their place with Future Foundations and adhere to this throughout the programme. We operate a yellow/red card warning system with a red card resulting in a young person being asked to leave the programme.  This is a very rare occurrence and we work closely with all young people to avoid any issues before they arise. If a young person is asked to leave the programme then the parents/guardians will be notified and asked to collect them or an alternative method agreed. If there are costs incurred (trains, taxi’s, buses) then these will be passed onto the parents after agreement from all parties.