NCRC

We inspire, co-create and share lasting solutions for a kinder, fairer, greener world.

We believe that everyone has the power to create positive change.

Our programmes help people build the skills, networks and self-belief to help communities thrive. We have a 25 year track record of achieving impact - developing people’s confidence, skills and capacity to tackle community, environmental and social problems

23/06/2026

We’re excited to be underway with The Tenants’ Voice project, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communications and Local Government for our newest project.

This is an innovative new project aiming to support social housing tenants by developing a digital platform that helps when dealing with housing issues.

We’re currently in the research stage of this project and would love to hear your ideas and opinions!

Coming up, we’re running two fully funded events for tenants:

📅1st July 2026 at The London School of Economics, London
📅20th - 21st July 2026 at Trafford Hall, Chester

We’re looking to hear from tenants’ first-hand experiences, and gain feedback on how this platform could help them in the future.

Interested in getting involved? Click here to find out how you can help: http://bit.ly/43M4mRF

Check out our flyer below to find out more about the Tenants’ Voice project.

03/06/2026

We already love our Community Champions for the brilliant work they do - but when they join forces to creat something great for their communities, it's even more fantastic.

A massive congrats to Sushma’s Community Cookery School CIC and The Hub Hugs4Free CIC for yesterday's collaboration in Burnley, made possible with funding from Smokefree Lancashire. We can't wait to see what you do next!

27/05/2026

Another successful day last week for our latest Green Aspirations Day!

Since we set up the pilot last year, we have had an amazing number of volunteers from businesses across the UK, come along to take part and inspire the future generation, and we wanted to say thank you to you all for taking part and making these events so fantastic to organise...

Thank you to:

The team at British Gas, who have supported every event so far!

Justin Toole and Shannon Hutton from M&Y Maintenance and Construction

Dave Byrne from Ecogee

Deborah Smith from Smith & Love Planning

NCRC is happy to welcome more volunteers to future Green Aspirations Days at Trafford Hall. If you’re interested in volunteering, please drop us an email:

NCRC rely on a variety of business to make these events come to life. Could you support our upcoming events? If you’re interested in volunteering, please Kathryn an email:

📧 [email protected]

19/05/2026

Today marks our second Green Aspirations Day of 2026!

We’re excited to be welcoming more schoolchildren to Trafford Hall, for another day focused on inspiring future careers in sustainability and the green sector.

The day is designed to encourage children from a young age to explore career pathways through hands-on activities, practical workshops and conversations with professionals working in the sector. Meeting employers and hearing from engaging stories from the industry can inspire children to take an interest in a career in the future.

Today’s event would not be possible without the amazing support of the businesses and employees volunteering their time out of work to inspire the next generation.

A special thank you to all our volunteers joining us today!

18/05/2026

Funding plays a crucial role in helping us deliver programmes that make a real difference to communities. It’s integral to the success of programmes like the Green Aspirations Days and makes these programmes possible, helping us to deliver these to more people that need them most.

The Green Aspirations Days continue to grow thanks to the backing of funders like The Westminster Foundation who believe in giving school children an opportunity to build confidence, explore new ideas and take part in hands on learning that is often difficult to access elsewhere. The funding helps us to accommodate children who face barriers to opportunities, ensuring they can take part fully and access the same enriching experiences as their peers.

This support also allows us to work more closely with schools, create tailored sessions that reflect the needs of pupils and continue developing activities that spark curiosity, build confidence and open new possibilities for the future.

Caroline Da Cunha, Cheshire Grants Manager, Westminster Foundation, shared her thoughts:

“We are delighted to support NCRC’s Green Aspirations Days across Chester and Ellesmere Port. It’s fantastic to see a programme that brings together outdoor activity, sustainability education and careers insight in such an engaging way. This is a unique offer for the area, giving young people an exciting opportunity to build confidence, skills and aspirations while enjoying time in nature.”

We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and for the belief in the impact this work can have.

Lesley Burrows, Managing Director of NCRC, said:

“With the support of Westminster Foundation, we can continue our work to inspire the next generation of changemakers and community leaders. Working with the Westminster Foundation and schools close to our home at Trafford Hall is hugely important to us. We hope this opportunity will strengthen fantastic local connections long beyond the Green Aspirations Days.”

14/05/2026

Our next Green Aspirations Day is just around the corner, so we’re reflecting on the success of the previous session in March and the impact it has made for the school children who attended.

These sessions help pupils build confidence, broaden their horizons and discover possibilities for their futures that they may not have encountered before. Schools tell us the impact is particularly strong for children who face additional barriers to opportunity.

The early feedback has been really encouraging...

- 84% of pupils said the event helped them develop and improve key skills
- 66% reported the day made them more positive about their future
- 100% of teachers strongly agreed these types of experiences provide a wider benefit for children

We are looking forward to delivering more Green Aspirations Days over the coming months and continuing to support pupils as they explore new ideas, grow in confidence and enjoy learning beyond the classroom.

11/05/2026

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and we’re reflecting on the importance of feeling heard, supported and confident about the future.

Across our programmes, we see first-hand how confidence, aspiration and mental wellbeing are closely linked. Feeling listened to, having safe spaces to express views and feeling supported can all have a positive impact on mental health.

We want participants to feel like they are in a safe environment where they feel valued, supported and comfortable to speak their mind. We believe having access to a community that values your presence and opinions is important to mental wellbeing.

Supporting mental health is not just a one‑week conversation. It is part of our everyday commitment to creating environments where people feel heard, valued and supported to build confidence in themselves and their future.

22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌍

At NCRC, our objective is to create healthier, more resilient and sustainable communities. Much of this comes from helping people develop skills, confidence and understanding of the green sector through a range of programmes that supports individual wellbeing and community building.

Our programmes provide space for learning, confidence building and developing new skills. Whether it is through classroom-based activities, work with school groups or collaborating with community leaders to, we focus on helping people understand the importance of their environment and deliver opportunities to educate people on the future of our planet.

Our Shaping Sustainable Futures programme is a key part of this. It supports young adults to learn about sustainability, green sector careers and the practical changes that can improve both individual wellbeing and the places they call home.

If you would like to learn more about our programmes or explore opportunities to collaborate, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch with the team today:
📧 [email protected]

08/04/2026

We are excited to share that NCRC has been awarded funding from the Westminster Foundation's Community Grants Programme!

This support will enable us to deliver a series of Green Aspirations Days for schools across the Chester and Ellesmere Port area. These events give young people the chance to explore their futures and the opportunities available to them, build their confidence and take part in different hands-on activities that help them to gain collaboration and communication skills.

The funding marks an exciting step forward as we continue to grow the programme following the success of last year’s pilot. It will allow us to reach more pupils, work with more schools and provide meaningful experiences that encourage young people to think positively about their future.

A huge thank you to the Westminster Foundation for recognising the impact of this work and for helping us continue supporting local communities. We look forward to sharing updates as the programme progresses.

Find out more about the funding here: https://the-ncrc.co.uk/ncrc-secures-westminster-foundation-funding/

07/04/2026

Today is World Health Day, a chance to recognise the role that healthy environments play in the wellbeing of our communities.

We're highlighting the important role that positive environments, strong community relationships and early opportunities play in supporting the wellbeing of children, families and neighbourhoods.

Across all of NCRC’s programmes, we focus on helping people feel more confident, connected and informed. Through Green Aspirations Days, school children spend time outdoors, learn new skills and explore ideas in a setting that supports curiosity, calm and resilience. Teachers tell us these sessions make a noticeable difference to children's confidence and overall wellbeing, especially for those who may not have regular access to natural spaces or hands on learning.

our work with community leaders helps us reach further into local neighbourhoods. By building trusted relationships, we can bring people together, share learning, strengthen our communities together. This network plays an important role in improving wellbeing at a community level and making sure support reaches those who need it most.

We are proud to play a part in creating healthier futures for young people and the communities around them.

If you would like to learn more or get involved in any of our programmes, we would love to hear from you.

📧 [email protected]

Address

Trafford Hall, Ince Lane, Wimbolds Trafford
Chester
CH24JP

Telephone

+443000136220

Website

https://the-ncrc.co.uk/

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