A National Citizen Service.
Having been a co-founder of the late Dialectic Organisation, which focussed on promoting groups across the UK that increased youth participation and interest in political processes and philanthropy, I would certainly never express harsh condemnation toward any politician striving toward the same goals. Thus, on the face of things, one would imagine that I would be in support of David Cameron’s latest proposal – the National Citizen Service – and to some degree I am.
The underlying ethos behind the NCS is a positive one: to improve young people’s belief in themselves and what they can achieve, by broadening their horizons and instilling a sense of self-respect, appreciation for society, and responsibility. As Gordon Brown stated, “The important thing is that all parties agree that young people get opportunities”. However, whilst Cameron’s philosophy is spot on, I feel the proposed practice is unfortunately weak.
The intention is for the NCS to operate through a single week’s residential course in conjunction with four weeks of community service and a single week of physical challenges. Given that the NCS is to be a voluntary initiative, I fail to see quite how this differs from courses that have been available separately for quite some years. For instance, the British Youth Council has been around since 1948 and as an umbrella body for over 150 voluntary organisations already in existence with their own well established networks and staff.
Furthermore, we only have to refer our attention to a speech by Gordon Brown from July 24th to see that community and voluntary services have been on the government’s agenda for quite some time. It acknowledged how under the BYC a National Youth Community Service was established last year, of which the charity V is but one part. This organisation in only its first year of operation has provided support and assistance to 120,000 young people.
The transcript makes for very interesting reading and provides a very useful insight into the work going on behind the scenes in such organisations that always going unacknowledged or appreciated by the press and the public. It shows just how much is already being done, what is underway and being planned, as well as focussing on the very important issue of raising awareness of these charities and the young people who are a part of them.
From this it would appear that the NCS would merely attempt to duplicate and dilute existing services through the lengthy, expensive and risky process of creating a whole new initiative.
A second and very important issue was one I covered recently when discussing Cameron’s plans to hold back under performing children at primary school. The NCS will focus on and be limited to children leaving secondary school at the age of sixteen. At this age the introduction of a philanthropic culture will be far more difficult than if a child were approached when they were much younger.
To sway young adults into the scheme will appear forceful and may breed disdain. However, if the children had already been well practised in sharing, community involvement and altruistic exercises throughout their primary school education, such a culture will come much more naturally and there may even be less of a need for the NCS in the first place. The soil has to be rich enough for the flowers to grow; social inclusion and the accomplishment of young people within society can be greatly improved if their diverse and complex needs are concentrated upon much earlier than this scheme suggests, with community projects, parents and schools working together in a concerted and focussed effort.
So far as I can see, there has been a steady increase in the size and involvement of the voluntary sector in improving the lives and opporunities of young people. The NCS is not necessary, and current practices have been seen to be working (discussion begins ~6:20).
For this article I focussed on expanding the comments of a disenchanted Conservative friend of mine.
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