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Hey! Welcome to the first edition of the NCS magazine – AND Co. I’m Joe, the Editor, and an NCS grad. So what’s my story? I graduated from NCS back in 2013 and I can honestly say that it not only changed my summer but also my life! My NCS journey has been incredible. Since graduating from the programme, I’ve left Cumbria, moved to London to work at NCS HQ, edited a magazine, filmed with YouTuber Ali-A and met the supertalented Tinie Tempah. Not bad before the age of 20! But more than anything, the whole experience has given me the confidence and skills to really push and challenge
myself. Now I’m thinking about starting uni and maybe even doing some travelling along the way – the possibilities are endless thanks to this life-changing experience! But I’m not the only one loving NCS – so do our amazing ambassadors! In AND Co you’ll find exclusive content from SBTV’s Jamal Edwards, charttopper Jess Glynne and ‘White Tiger’ singer Izzy Bizu. If you need any more reasons to sign up for NCS Summer, head over to NCSYES.CO.UK/SUMMER. And who knows, maybe you’ll be sitting in the AND Co Editor’s chair one day!
Joe Philipson (NCS grad 2013)
NCS
A live music & awards show celebrating the NCS social action stars of today and tomorrow
After NCS, you’ll continue to receive exclusive opportunities in volunteering, work placements and cool events through the Opportunity Hub – an online platform available only to our NCS grads. Take it from these lucky grads who got to shadow a pro and gain experience in PR, event production, social media, and photography. Here’s what they said about running the show at NCS YES Live... Production Manager – Lorna
PR Assistant – Benjamin
I found out about this role through the Opp Hub. There is more running around and physical movement than I thought! The Production Manager does much more than any of the performers or acts, yet they don’t seem to get credited enough for their amazing work. Without them there wouldn’t be a show!
I learnt how backstage planning is crucial to putting on such a large event – from doing the radio check to preparing the media section of the floor space. It’s also important to remain professional around such high profile figures like Tinie Tempah and Jess Glynne because it leaves a positive impression.
Photography Assistant – Thomas It was a very eye-opening and enjoyable experience. It really showed me how the whole world of photography works. It was great to see some amazing acts and I would definitely do it again if I had the chance. Social Media Assistant – Madison The fact it was based in London was an experience in itself! I shadowed a team where we got to watch Jess Glynne and Tinie Tempah’s soundcheck. I also talked to a representative from 4Music and saw the behind the scenes filming in the green room. Overall, I’ve learnt that social media is not just about tweeting and taking pictures, it’s also about creativity, consistency, planning and hard work. It’s so important to have good teamwork and communication!
Production Runner – Rhea After seeing the opportunity on the Opp Hub, I jumped at the chance to take part. I got to experience what it’s like behind the scenes at a music event – I even watched some of the YES Live performances and some of the performers backstage! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, from being at the Roundhouse prior to YES Live, to helping out with a huge variety of tasks during the event, and finally seeing it all come together. Production Runner – Chloe I’ve learnt two things. One – Blu-Tack becomes your best friend! I used about three packets of the stuff when sticking up posters and the directions all around the building. Two – being a production runner means exactly what it says on the tin. You run around all day doing tasks, from running down the street to buying staples to clearing the food out of Jess Glynne’s dressing room! Lighting Assistant – Jack I enjoyed NCS YES Live. It was great to see how lighting plays a role in putting on a show. In lighting, different colour schemes are used to change a whole theatre into a different environment. For example, we used certain lighting to create a real NCS atmosphere at the Camden Roundhouse.
As part of a social action project, a group of NCSers painted a beautiful and vibrant mural in the garden of Connect and Do’s space in Brixton. Connect and Do is a community centre that runs various classes and workshops for people with mental health needs. A few months ago, ‘White Tiger’ singer and a friend of NCS, Izzy Bizu, visited Connect and Do to see all the amazing work. What’s more, NCS grads Shanil, Mustafa and Dylan suited up as journalists for the day and interviewed Izzy themselves! Read on to find out more about the talented singer!
Shanil: How did you come up with the name of your debut album ‘A Moment of Madness’? Izzy: I think it was subconscious from my childhood, which I never really sunk in. I moved houses and countries quite a lot and went to boarding school. It was always a game changer and it was such a great childhood but it was also manic and weird. I think I bottled it up for so long, so that was my moment of madness, and then I just had an outburst of writing songs. Mustafa: If you weren’t a singer, what would you have been?
Dylan: How did you feel when you got nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the MOBOs? Izzy: I would really like to do psychology... Mustafa: That’s what I’m doing! Izzy: Really? That’s incredible! You’ve gotta give me some tips. I really want to study it! It’s really interesting, getting a better understanding of people and getting closer to them. Dylan: Which artist would you like to collaborate with most? Izzy: I really love Anderson Paak, he’s incredible! I would’ve loved to collaborate with Marvin Gaye. I think he’s such a beautiful person; he seemed really kind and cared about humanity. Mustafa: What has been your favourite gig to date? Izzy: I’m not just saying this but NCS YES Live was amazing. I thought the energy in the room was really incredible. Another one was this random festival in Belgium – it was quite chilled and I really liked it because I got to see my favourite artist (Anderson Paak). We were in this wooden room and it felt like you were in someone’s living room.
Izzy: So happy! I didn’t believe it, I thought it was a mistake! To think I started writing in my bedroom all confused and stuff and then getting to that point [being nominated for a MOBO], I was just so happy! Mustafa: How did you find inspiration for your songs? Izzy: Through love [everyone laughs]...I know, puke! [laughs]. Also through frustration and anger – I never want to project that on anybody so I put it into my songs. Shanil: If there was a teenager trying to make it in the music industry, what advice would you give? Izzy: Don’t get sucked into things because of peer pressure. I mean everything is good in moderation but you really need to know yourself before you get into things. Don’t be influenced by doing things and think you’re that person when you’re not. Stick with your family and close friends, they love you the most and want the best for you out of everyone, most of the time.
Man I miss the summer. Coz it was during the summer
didn’t signify the end of the
times we were so close that we
our school uniforms for
The day started with the first
But I guess.. all friendships
last adventure.
But all friendships are meant
friends and got to remember
You betray the summer if you
The ones whose parents had
it.
different schools, but during
its hand, make sure you grip
same classroom.
where it may be leading you
six weeks, it would hold me
beauty of it.
From the ages 15 to 18, the
moments. In seconds. And in
where we shed the skins of tracksuits, shorts and opportunity.
Life’s a series of
transactions and it was during the summer where I deposited my childhood and withdrew my adolescence.
It’s where we learned the
lessons they were too afraid
to teach us in the classroom. Found the answers that
didn’t fit in PowerPoint presentations or on the drawing board.
Coz when the summer came, 3:30
Suli Breaks
day.
made the winter jealous.
opportunity and ended with the
are not meant to last.
It’s where we got to make new
to be appreciated.
the old ones.
don’t take full advantage of
decided to send them to
So when the summer holds out
the summer we all shared the
it firmly. Coz you never know
Man I miss the summer. Coz for
to, and I guess that’s the
and not let me go.
Coz life can change in
summer was my best friend. At
one summer.
NCS Ambassador Jess Glynne surprised a group of young people on NCS at Haggerston School! Not only was there a Q&A but the Brit Awardnominee invited some passionate teens to sing along with her in front of their peers! Check out the photos that captured this incredible moment...
After completing NCS, our grads have gone on to do some pretty remarkable things. To show you how NCS helps you develop skills and gain confidence to pursue a career (and passion) you’re interested in, we’ve interviewed one of our grads who received an amazing opportunity because of the skills he gained on NCS. Max is the Web Developer and Presenter at Dane Sound Radio – a Holmes Chapel radio broadcasting station that started in January 2015. Max was responsible for developing the website for Dane Sound in
order to create a platform which displayed all the information regarding the station. But that’s not all this NCS grad has accomplished since his programme experience. Out of 20,000 applicants, Max was one of eight students chosen to sit on Virgin Media’s Digital Youth Council. He took the stage and presented at the largest teaching conference in the UK, with 3,000 teachers in attendance. He even got the chance to meet Sir Richard Branson himself!
“Meeting Richard was a very surreal experience. He was very chatty and was happy to answer our questions,” Max says. Being a part of Dane Sound has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Max. He says: “Working at the station and taking part in launching Dane Sound was such a new experience and something many young people don’t get the opportunity to experience.” This is just one example of what the future can hold once you’ve completed NCS!
Jamal Edwards: How to conquer your career goals The future can be a scary looking place. There are big decisions to make, interviews to attend, and the small matter of making your dreams a reality. NCS looks great on a CV, but how can you really get someone’s attention the next time you’re being interviewed or have to write a personal statement? Who better to ask than NCS patron Jamal Edwards, founder of SB.TV and all-round entreprenurial superstar! Here are some expert tips from Jamal to help you find your voice and conquer your career goals. Discover your niche You are the only version of yourself. There’s no replica of you. I believe everyone’s got something to offer – it’s just about finding your niche, then doing your thing! You don’t have to try and be like everyone else; think carefully about what makes you different, what you’re passionate about, and where you’re going next. And when you do find your niche, hit it hard.
Never be scared of failure Life is about trial and error – if you never fail then you never learn, and if you never learn, you can’t go anywhere. There are always setbacks, but it’s about taking those experiences and using it as a positive. Keep trying new things and you never know where it might take you. Do something you enjoy Life’s too short to spend years doing something you don’t love. Do your research about which job or course you’re applying for, and channel your inner passion into everything you do. Remember to think about how your skills apply to your chosen path – tailor your CV and make your application count. Dream big If you’re really passionate and focused about something, you’ve got all the energy you need. Bobby Kennedy said, “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask, why not?” A little bit of selfbelief goes a long way, and if you believe in yourself, anything’s possible! Stay tuned for future collaborations with Jamal Edwards and NCS!
GET YOUR FREE NCS T-SHIRT WHEN YOU SIGN UP
After you sign up to NCS, you’ll receive a stylish free NCS t-shirt to wear on-programme. To get you fashionably ready, here’s Anna – fashion expert and ASOS insider – with some tips on how to rock your new T when you arrive on NCS.
For a simple and relaxed look, roll up the sleeves and pair your T with a high-waisted 90s jean. Accessorise your outfit with a western belt and crossbody bag. Not only does this give you a place to store your things, but you can also add some personal pizazz with the print. Go for a camo print to match your trainers, or choose a bright colour to really make your outfit pop! If you want to try something different, then instead of the jeans wear a flared skirt with white trainers. Or ditch the trainers for a chunky sandal if you want to dress it up a notch!
Style your T with a trendy light wash cropped-cut jean. Pair it with white socks and comfy trainers – maybe a pair of Adidas or Converse. For those chilly days, add some layers like a bomber jacket or add a pop of colour with a sweater and tie it around your waist.
“To style my NCS T, I’d roll up the sleeves to give it a more personalised look. To add some layers, I’d wear a cardigan or a stylish black leather jacket. To complete the outfit, I’d pair the shirt with a skinny highwaisted jean (tucked in) and rock a classic pair of high top converse.” “I would go for a denim jacket or if it’s a rainy day, then an oversized rain mac instead. To get the perfect day look, boyfriend cut jeans will do the trick. If it’s warm outside, then I’d opt for a pair of high-waisted shorts. To juxtapose the style, I’d wear frilly socks paired with Converse or Nike Airs.”
“You can’t go wrong with a sleek bomber jacket – it has the ability to really transform any plain shirt. I’d wear it with skinny black jeans and sport a comfortable pair of slick Vans or Nike trainers. Simple yet stylish.”
A snapshot of life after NCS
NCS has been the launchpad for loads of young people doing exciting things. Just ask these guys!
Dan:
Jade:
NCS has pushed me to make my own decisions and gave me the independence I needed to travel on my own to Japan. I stayed in hostels and met lots of new people! Thanks to NCS, I was comfortable with inductions and felt like I could be more open when talking to all sorts of people. I even climbed Mount Fuji with the two new friends I made!
Currently I’m attending Gloucester University for Sports and Exercise Science. Before NCS, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and I knew that taking exams wasn’t my strongest point, but after taking on public speaking and other skill-oriented activities, I gained confidence to pursue a degree in something that I was passionate about.
Since my NCS journey, I’ve taken the skills I learned from NCS to the Cabinet Office where I work at Number 10. I can definitely say the skills I gained from week two helped me get a job faster than expected!
I was always a referee, but it wasn’t until I completed NCS that I decided to pursue a higher level when a promotion was up for grabs to referee the Youth FA Games. NCS boosted my confidence and helped me take a leap to excel in better opportunities! It’s been a positive experience and helped me be a better version of myself.
SIGN UP TODAY!
NCSYES.CO.UK/SUMMER Call 0800 197 8010