Chairman of the National Citizen Service (NCS)

Chairman of the National Citizen Service (NCS) is a key position in the United Kingdom's National Citizen Service (NCS), a program established by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010, with the support of Nick Clegg and Conservative Party (UK) to promote community service and social action among young people, in partnership with organizations like BBC Children in Need, The Prince's Trust, and Comic Relief. The Chairman of the NCS plays a crucial role in overseeing the program's development and implementation, working closely with Parliament of the United Kingdom, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and other stakeholders, including National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Volunteering Matters. The NCS has been supported by various Members of Parliament, such as Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Jeremy Corbyn, who have recognized its potential to foster social cohesion and community engagement.

Introduction

The Chairman of the National Citizen Service (NCS) is appointed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to lead the NCS Board and provide strategic direction to the program, which has been praised by organizations like The Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, and St John Ambulance. The Chairman works closely with the NCS Trust and its partners, including O2 (UK) and Microsoft UK, to ensure the program's success and growth, with the aim of engaging young people from diverse backgrounds, such as those involved with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Uniformed youth organizations. The NCS has also collaborated with local authorities, such as Greater London Authority and Birmingham City Council, to deliver its programs and activities, which have been recognized by Awards for All and The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

Role and Responsibilities

The Chairman of the NCS is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to the program, working with the NCS Trust and its partners, such as Facebook UK and Google UK, to develop and implement the NCS strategy, which has been influenced by initiatives like National Volunteers' Week and Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015. The Chairman also plays a key role in promoting the NCS and its benefits, engaging with stakeholders, including Youth United Foundation, Step Up To Serve, and National Youth Agency, and securing funding and support from organizations like Big Lottery Fund and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The Chairman works closely with the Department for Education, Ministry of Justice, and other government departments, such as Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions, to ensure the NCS is aligned with national priorities and policies, including National Citizen Service Act 2017 and Civil Society Strategy.

List of Chairmen

The following individuals have served as Chairman of the National Citizen Service (NCS): * Stephen Greene (businessman) (2010-2012), who worked with David Cameron and Nick Clegg to establish the NCS, in partnership with organizations like BBC and Channel 4 * Lord Wei (2012-2014), who played a key role in developing the NCS strategy, with the support of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility * Stephen Greene (businessman) (2014-2016), who led the NCS during a period of significant growth and expansion, with the help of National Lottery Community Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation * Michael Lynas (2016-2018), who worked to increase participation and engagement in the NCS, in collaboration with Youth Sport Trust and Sport England * Dame Martina Milburn (2018-present), who has continued to promote the NCS and its benefits, with the support of The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge

History of the Position

The position of Chairman of the National Citizen Service (NCS) was established in 2010, when the NCS was launched by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, with the aim of promoting social action and community service among young people, in partnership with organizations like The British Red Cross and St Andrew's First Aid. The first Chairman, Stephen Greene (businessman), played a key role in shaping the NCS and its strategy, working closely with Cabinet Office and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Since then, the position has been held by several individuals, each bringing their own expertise and experience to the role, including Lord Wei, who has been involved with Big Society Network and Social Finance UK.

Notable Chairmen

Several Chairmen of the National Citizen Service (NCS) have made significant contributions to the program and its development, including Stephen Greene (businessman), who has been recognized for his work in social entrepreneurship and philanthropy, with awards like Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Lord Wei has also been recognized for his work in social action and community development, with honors like Order of the British Empire and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. The current Chairman, Dame Martina Milburn, has been recognized for her work in education and social mobility, with awards like DBE and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and has been involved with organizations like The Social Mobility Commission and The Prince's Trust. Other notable individuals, such as Iain Duncan Smith and Justine Greening, have also supported the NCS and its mission, with initiatives like National Citizen Service Act 2017 and Civil Society Strategy.