BARROW school, Chetwynde, has been awarded the NCS Gold Award for its commitment to National Citizen Service (NCS) delivered by Inspira.

Alison Currie, Head of PHSE, said "the NCS programme provides young people with essential life skills and a wide range of experiences. I've seen young people transformed by the programme.That's why at Chetwynde we encourage all our school leavers to participate."

Chetwynde School was the only educational institution in the Furness area to achieve an award.

"It is a fabulous result for the school," said Julia Winder, Inspira's Area Operations Manager in Barrow. "NCS is a life-changing experience for young people post their GCSEs, so it is a testament to Chetwynde, Alison and the whole school team for their commitment and support to the programme."

Already Chetwynde is on track to receive the 2020 NCS Gold Award.

NCS is a three or four week part-residential programme which takes place in the summer for young people finishing their GCSEs. The national programme is heavily subsidised by the Government, so it only costs families £50 per person.

Designed to prepare young people for independent life, the programme consists of outdoor activities, living in university-style accommodation and developing and delivering a social action project.

Last year, students from Chetwynde were involved in One, Two, Tree, which saw the group plant a tree for every three likes they received on social media, an overnight homeless café run from John Woodcock's office, and projects to raise money for St Mary's Hospice.