National Citizen Service

[anotheoldgit]

Should this proposed scheme be compulsory rather than voluntary?

/// Every secondary school will be made to encourage teenagers to take up community service in a major escalation of a government scheme dubbed national service for youngsters. ///

/// Academies, sixth forms colleges as well as state and private schools will be required to tell hundreds of thousands of 16- and 17-year-olds to take part in the National Citizen Service. ///

/// Cabinet ministers will also be forced to report on what they have done to promote the scheme ever year while councils will be made to encourage participation. ///

/// The scheme will see teenagers across the country to help out charities and take part in community services in a scheme championed by David Cameron. ///

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/18/queens-speech-criminals-prisons-weekend-tagging-eu-referendum/

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

/// Doesn't sound as if it will be
compulsory. ///

I can't remember anyone saying that it would be, but what I did ask was:

*** Should this proposed scheme be compulsory rather than voluntary? ***

[Old_Geezer]

It should be abandoned.

[pixie374]

No, they have to stay in full-time education until they're 18 now. My daughter has college, hours and hours of homework and a job. She needs time to see friends etc too. More suitable for the long-term unemployed, really.

[viv41]

Yes, I think it would be more suitable for the long time unemployed, and voluntary. What with cutbacks in Councils now, clean ups round here are getting rarer and rarer and and weeds now grow unchecked.

[gness]

I haven't read all the details yet but a voluntary scheme like this seems a good idea for some.

For three years I ran a similar programme in a comprehensive school.....my pupils had various degrees of learning difficulties but not severe enough to attend a special school.
I found places for them at day centres, residential homes, infant schools, garden centres and the like......once or twice a week.
They didn't take a job from anyone but gained much from mixing with so many different people and from being appreciated for what they gave in return.....

I still remember one lad after his first day saying....Hey....these oldies ain't so bad after all, Miss.......☺

[naomi24]

AOG, //Should this proposed scheme be compulsory rather than voluntary? //

Slapped legs for me for not answering the question. No, it shouldn't be compulsory.