David Cameron praises National Citizen Service on Wales visit

Graduates who do a two-year teaching scheme will be expected to volunteer with the National Citizen Service (NCS), Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

The NCS aims to prepare teenagers for work through team building activities and community projects.

It has run in England since 2011 and a pilot scheme began in Wales in 2014.

Mr Cameron, visiting Snowdonia, said it was a "fantastic opportunity" for young people.

The intention is that graduates on the scheme, called Teach First, lead teenagers on group activities and challenges like mountaineering, canoeing and abseiling.

More than 1,700 graduates joined Teach First in England and Wales this year, and the intention is for all to be involved in the volunteer scheme by 2017.

'Break down social barriers'

Visiting an outdoor education centre in the Conwy valley on Friday, Mr Cameron said: "NCS is a fantastic opportunity for young people from different backgrounds to come together to gain life skills and give something back to their local community.

"Teach First's mission to break down social barriers makes its teachers ideal volunteer mentors to engage with and inspire young people on NCS.

The prime minister met young volunteers along with adventurer Bear Grylls (right)

They gathered at an outdoor activity centre in Llanrwst, in the Conwy valley

David Cameron wants the programme to be offered to young people across Wales

"This fantastic partnership will create thousands more opportunities for young people to benefit from NCS."

The NCS is a key part of Mr Cameron's "Big Society" agenda, encouraging the growth of volunteering and promoting so-called social enterprises.

The prime minister urged the Welsh government to consider taking up the scheme and offering it across Wales.

A report on the Welsh pilot - examining whether it duplicates or complements existing schemes - is expected shortly.

The UK government has been embroiled in controversy this week after one high-profile charity, Kids Company, closed its doors after ministers said they wanted to recover a £3m grant.

There have been suggestions that Mr Cameron himself had been "mesmerised" by the charity's founder Camila Batmanghelidjh, and had over-ruled civil service concerns over continued funding for the organisation.