Andy Spence & Claudia Walker at NCS graduation

Everton Ladies duo Andy Spence and Claudia Walker were the surprise guests of honour at the National Citizen Service Summer (NCS) Graduation earlier this month.

Hosted at the famous Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, the proceedings saw students aged 16 and 17 recognised for their achievements over the course of the summer and presented with certificates.

Delivered by Everton in the Community, the NCS programme is open to all 16 and 17-year-olds in England and gives young adults the opportunity to take part in social action projects as well as gaining new skills for work and life.

This year, more than 12,000 hours of social action was completed by the students, with one in seven feeling more confident about getting a job.

NCS brings together young people from different backgrounds and helps them develop greater confidence, self-awareness and responsibility. It encourages personal and social development by working on skills like leadership, teamwork and communication.

During their time on the NCS programme, the young adults took part in an outward bound residential where they tried their hand at activities such as gorge walking, canoeing and abseiling before embarking on a home residential where they gained first aid qualifications and developed their awareness of local social issues before designing and building a social action project to be delivered in their local community.

Speaking after the prestigious graduation, Joe Rowe, Volunteer and National Citizen Service Programme Co-ordinator, said: "Once again the NCS graduation was a great success. It’s always fantastic to see the young people awarded for all of the hard work they’ve put in.

“The programme is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and provides vital opportunities to gain new skills, build confidence and try activities that they wouldn’t usually have access to. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Ingeus and The NHS Trust, for their invaluable support this summer.”

Everton in the Community has delivered the NCS programme for the past six years engaging over two thousand young people from across Merseyside with the government initiative.