A CHARITY is urging teenagers in Hampshire to change their lives and make the most of opportunities by taking part in the National Citizen Service.

Youth Options, which helps to deliver the National Citizen Service (NCS), says that it can help young people get jobs and improve their career prospects by giving them access to unique volunteering and work experience opportunities.

As teenagers prepare to take exams, research, which analyses data provided by UCAS, shows that university admission is about more than just exam grades with NCS grads 12 per cent more likely to get into university than non-NCS graduates.

Since its launch in 2009, NCS has given more than 300,000 young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to spend four weeks experiencing the great outdoors, learning important life skills and volunteering in their local community.

NCS, which recently received Royal Assent making NCS part of the law of the land, is open to 16-17-year-olds in England.

This year a record 100,000 young people are signed up to take part in NCS across England and Wales. Youth Options is urging young people to sign up for summer places before they run out.

NCS project manager at Youth Options, Hayley Pettitt-Miller, said: β€œIn Southampton, we have over three hundred 16 and 17-year-olds joining us this summer for an exciting and action packed month of activity. We have six programmes rolling out from June 26.”

To sign up to NCS this summer visit ncsyes.co.uk or to find out more about Youth Options visit youthoptions.co.uk or call 02380 770713.