A HAMPSHIRE student is calling on his peers to use their summer holidays more wisely and develop the life skills not included in the national curriculum.

Following a survey, conducted by One Poll, which found that young people are planning to spend 84

hours lying in, 75 hours watching Netflix and 44 hours taking selfies this summer, Adam Gibson, 16, is urging teens to put down their phones and seize the unique opportunity this summer brings.

Adam’s call comes following his own life-changing experience on a National Citizen Service programme last year, designed to offer 16 and 17 year olds across Hampshire a fun way to learn skills for work and life,. and as The national study amongst secondary school teachers, supported by stars of the Channel 4 hit shows Educating Essex and Educating the East End, reveals that students who have tried something new during the school holidays have a more positive attitude and are more focused than their

peers on returning to school.

Students who have experienced little stimulation over the holidays, on the other hand, often return less productive and find it difficult to concentrate when they return to school.

Adam said: “Before signing up to the programme, I was worried about how I was going to fill the long summer holidays. So when I heard about the programme from school I thought it’d be a great chance to grow my CV and keep myself busy.

“Not only did I feel more confident about my abilities, but I met some amazing people and really did have the best summer of my life. I still carry that confidence with me a year after

taking part in the programme and would encourage others to get

up and do something constructive with their summer.”

Recent research from providers

of the summer programme, the National Citizen Service, reveals that more than four in 10ten young people expect to run out of things to do this summer.

The programme includes 30 hours that the students commit to a community project, which involves building their employability and having fun at the same time. This project is also recognised by UCAS and helps students frame their skills and experiences for interviews and university applications.