AN Evesham teenager is urging young people to choose real-life adventures over virtual experiences.

Faith Williamson, aged 16, spoke out after taking part in a youth empowerment programme.

The National Citizen Service runs in the holidays and includes a trip away to an outdoor activity centre, the chance to learn a new skill and involvement in a social action project.

Faith said: “Before going on NCS I was often prone to sticking to my routine and rarely tried anything new.

"Like most other teenagers I just attended a couple of clubs and spent a lot of time online – NCS helped me to unlock my sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things.

She added: “Signing up to NCS was a little scary initially – I didn’t know many others going and most of the activities were completely new to me, but I’m now so glad I gave it a go.

"I’m now much more adventurous and try to give everything a go, no matter how nervous I am at first because I know it can only open more doors and opportunities for me– some of the stories I will remember forever.”

Faith has urged other teens to try a similar adventure after recent research by NCS showed a quarter of teens believed an online adventure was as satisfying as real life while one in five had never had a real life adventure.

Her dad Nick Phillips said: “Obviously it’s nerve-wracking letting your teen go away for a few weeks, but when Faith returned I could instantly tell it was the right decision.

"She couldn’t wait to tell me about the adventures she had and the new friends she had made but for me what was most apparent was her transformation in confidence.

"She was a different person!”

Paul King, spokesman for APM who run NCS in Evesham said: “Faith’s story shows the importance of giving young people the space and opportunity to develop independently but within a safe environment.

"On NCS young people are supervised by our expert team leaders but given the autonomy to manage their own budgets, create their own meals and take control of their own development."

More information about NCS is available at ncsyes.co.uk.