A Conservative government would offer 'National (Citizen) Service' to all sixteen year-olds

'Bring back national service!' is one of the favourite calls of traditionalists and the Tory leader is today returning to an idea that he first floated when he was running for the Conservative leadership (see here).  Mr Cameron will travel to Bolton today where he will launch a Green Paper calling for a 'National Citizen Service'.  Olympic medalist and boxer Amir Khan (pictured) will be at the launch.  The scheme has been scaled back somewhat since the leadership contest.  It will be weeks rather than months in length and the idea of compulsory service has also been dropped.  It will have the following key characteristics (according to today's Mail):

• It will be a six week commitment - running during the summer months.
• 650,000 sixteen year-olds will be encouraged to undertake aid work, visit the elderly or undertake military training.
• There will be a cash award for graduates of the Service - 50% of the award will go to the individual volunteer and half to a charity of the individual's choice.
• Employers would be encouraged to take note of an applicant's involvement in the Service in the same way they currently take note of Prince's Trust and Duke of Edinburgh involvement.
• At the end of the course the volunteer will have to make a pledge of allegiance to Britain and explain what they have learnt. 

In the past Mr Cameron has said that he hopes the scheme could be seen as a nationally recognised 'transition to adulthood' or 'rite of passage': "In our society, the closest thing to a rite of passage is probably going out and getting completely hammered on your eighteenth birthday.  I think programmes like this could provide a positive alternative... It could become a recognised 'stamp' of adulthood in Britain."

The cost of funding the Service has not yet been calculated.  A new policy group under Michael Gove's chairmanship will do that work.  The Conservative leader sees National Citizen Service as an essential part of his long-term aim to repair 'Britain's broken society'.  He issued this statement:

"It will mix people from different countries.  North and south, black and white, rich and poor. They will be putting something back into the community.  It will be a way of learning respect for our country and each other just like national service was.  This could really change our country for the better. I feel very passionate about this. It should be a part of every child's experience.  You should go from primary school to secondary school, and then at 16 your citizen service. We cannot afford not to do this."

The Sun welcomes the idea - calling it "imaginative and optimistic".

Comments

[Tony Makara]

Excellent idea to give the young a sense of community and belonging. As citizen service is not complusary participation ought to be seen as a big statement on a young persons CV. Employers should recognise the citizen service and even ask on application forms and in interviews "Did you complete citizen servive?" Let the award carry weight.

[Tony Makara]

Hopefully all future employers will ask "Did you complete citizen service?" The award should carry weight and be seen as an essential part of a persons CV.

[John Coles]

Social enginering. Still Mr Cameron "feels very passionately about this", so that's alright then. Remarkable how this uncosted scheme gains ready approval, whilst tax cuts cannot be discussed.

[Simon Mallett]

This might be a decent idea but I am worried that 6 weeks is probably too short to make any real difference. If it was an option during school holidays from an earlier age culminating in a 6 week course, then it really could make a difference.

[Cornstock]

I'd have loved to get involved in something like this in the long summer break between GCSEs and 6th form (not the military aspect obv)

My slight concern is whether it would attract those who would otherwise be out commiting crime/anti social behaviour.

[Tony Makara]

Cornstock, I think thats why its important that the citizens service award is seen as essential to a young persons CV. Questions like "Why did you not do citizens service?" Should be standard at all job/college interviews. Imagine job adverts that say 'Must have completed 'citizen's service' etc. If the award is seen as carrying a lot of importance it will make the scheme work in the way it should.

[James M]

Will it be restricted to that summer between High School and Summer? There could be value in allowing anyone between particular ages say 16-18 (i.e pre-university) to take part in the service.

[James M]

I of course meant "between High School and Sixth Form"

[Deputy Editor]

If calling for a short (too short if anything) voluntary course that encourages teens to broaden their perspectives, get involved in voluntary work, and feel a greater sense of citizenship is social engineering... then I'm proud to be called a social engineer!

Besides, the idea is backed by today's Page 3 girl (I'm told).

[Will]

I think it will be taken up by middle class children, encouraged by their parents to improve their CV's. I do not think it will attract those who would most benefit from it.

[John Craig]

Its not perfect - but it is a start. If we do nothing - try nothing - then we are as much to blame for the breakdown in society as Gordon and Tony!

[JE]

And this distinguishes itself from a nationalised alternative to the Duke of Edinburgh awards how?

Aren't we all meant to have left these kind nationalised, government schemes in the past? Especially when there are perfectly good civil society-run alternatives? What next, a nationalised version of the Boy Scouts or Girl Guides?

[Editor]

It may be nationally-coordinated by government, JE, but my understanding is that the six week schemes will largely be delivered by civil society organisations.

[Sally Roberts]

This is a superb idea and very much to be encouraged!

[A more vocal lurker]

with ref to John Coles @9.11 is the Conservative Party nothing more to you than a means to achieving tax cuts??

There is an idea which myself and other right of centre, pro-capitalists believe in called "investment". Ie spend some money now and achieve the returns later. This is how we should differentiate ourselves from Labour, not just by being cheaper in the short term, but by improving things AND being cheaper in the long term. I think an idea such as this is a good example of this.

[Bill]

If a return to National Service is out of the question, what about expanding the role of cadet forces both in and out of schools? This could be coupled with an expansion of our reserve forces.

[Helen]

What employers would mostly like to see is not extra bits on the CV but school-leavers who can read, write and do basic maths. They would also like to see school leavers who are polite, punctual, know how to work, dress appropriately and generally know how to behave in the big bad world as opposed to how to behave when they go clubbing with their mates. Will those six-week schemes achieve that?

Btw, Editor, what is a civil society organisation? How many people does it employ, what sort of offices must it have, how much bumf does it produce? In short, how much does it cost us?

[Tony Makara]

Editor, hopefully young people will be fielded into the programme after coming out of school.

[James Maskell]

Its a pity that this idea has been on the backburner for such a long time but onward we move. There are some problems here, such as the length of it (six weeks is fairly short) and the criticism that its not really much different from the Duke of Edinburgh is very valid. With it being voluntary, Im not entirely sure that the children we will want to get to attend (those most likely to turn to crime) will be the ones who actually turn up. Itll be those who are likely to be responsible adults anyway who will attend.

[Tony Makara]

James Maskell, its a bit difficult to see how it could be extended beyond the six week summer period as young people have to get on with their lives once college starts. It might be an idea to have something running locally that could extend the citizens service into the evenings or weekends for those that want it.

[James Maskell]

It would have to be evening/weekends obviously.

[Mark]

I think you might be right James Maskell.

Reading between the lines I get the impression it'll be aimed at students in between GCSEs and Sixth Form. Surely it ought to be targeted at those dropping out of education at 16 and going into dead end jobs, or those who've effectively given up on education even earlier. They are the ones who actually need this kind of thing.

[Brian Wood]

I think the concept behind it is excellent but it should not be at the expense of the voluntary organisations and schemes already existing. They would all look good on anyone's CV.

Six weeks however is not really long enough but perhaps can be viewed as a bare minimum leading to links to other out of school/college activities.

[Jonathan Mackie]

Conceptually excellent, but probably totally unworkable.

Unlikely to be taken up by those who most need discipline and a sense of civic persepctive.

The citizenship curriculum in schools has become a bit of a joke and this seems a bit of an extension to that.

As an employer I've never taken note of someone's involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh awards. I have considered there qualifications, experience, willingness to work for the company. In fact some of the worst potential employees I've met are those who have done VSO, Duke of Edinburgh or some other 'community work'.

[simon]

A good idea, but HOW is the scheme going to affect 'racial mixing'? Not if the scheme is going to be 'national', but 'locally' centered ( ie) people in Hull will not be mixing with people from Brixton). Anything that aims to create a feeling of 'national' identity be it English, Scottish, Welsh , or N Irish has to be applauded.

[Richard]

"the criticism that its not really much different from the Duke of Edinburgh is very valid."

This is only anecdotal evidence of course, but: when I was at (comprehensive) school, only about 1 person in my whole year did the D of E. When I was at university, on the other hand, and knew many people from private schools, grammar schools and Very Very Good State Schools (e.g. KEGS), almost everyone seemed to have done the D of E...

So something D of E-esque, but much more inclusive, aimed at everyone and not just keen-o's, could still be a good idea.

[DavisFan]

COMMENT OVERRIDDEN

[Peter Hatchet]

This must be compulsory.

Most of you have already pointed these things out, but;

(1) Compulsory - The people who need this programme the most are the 20% of young kids who are - let's face it - dropouts. If it ain't compulsory, most of them sure as hell won't turn up.

(2) Challenging - It needs to challenge and test them. It mustn't just be a glorified DoE. It needs to be residential (preferably all 6 weeks) challenging and not easy. Skills need to be learnt, people need to be tested. No cop out.

(3)Illiberal - Is this illiberal? Yes, in a way, but one illiberal law now which affects young people at age 16 to discipline them could avoid hundreds of illiberal laws being passed by future governments on the rest of us to deal with the consequences of a lifetime of selfish bad-behaviour.

It must be tough, intense, testing and compulsory.

Cameron either needs to boost this up now or boost it up when he's in government and has more confidence.

[Deputy Editor]

I recommend at least a scanning of the full document explaining this scheme.

I don't think concerns about it being too middle class etc are impossible obstacles for the policy group to address, it's definitely one of my favourite Conservative policies.

[Victor, NW Kent]

Why is return to National Service out of the question? The number of 16-24 year olds not in work, education or training is at a staggering all-time high. The size of the figure is too huge to contemplate.

This is a huge - and growing - group of people who have never worked and may never work whilst few of them are physically incapable. This is smouldering bomb waiting to fell society as the ability to support them with benefits runs out of active workers. It is hardly possible to afford them now but the group seems to increase at about 100,000 a year.

There is no realistic alternative to reintroducing National Service for 12 or 18 months for all who are physically capable. From the conscripts some will elect miltary service - all others must be used in community service and receive training to fit them for employment after service.

To those who say we cannot possibly afford this I answer that we are paying them anyway and this will enable us to shorten the period and to reintegrate the lost generation back into society.

It is hardly necessary to state the obvious side benefits of massive reductions in juvenile crime, drunkeness and drug addiction. In fact we may see a reformation of what has become a permanent underclass witout hope, without pride.

Put the idea to a poll - I predict a huge majority in favour.

[Peter Hatchet]

Sorry, another point - will probably generate the most flak:

(4) Central/Regional Programme - sorry, this is a bit statist, BUT, I really think it would be of benefit if the programmes did mix up people from all sorts of backgrounds - just like the army does. Programmes could take place at regional centres around the country. I think exposing the maximum number of people to the maximum amount of diversity would reduce suspicions and distrust amongst groups and help build a common British identity.

Nothing silly like racial/multicultural quotas, but a conscious effort to mix-up different regions, cities and parts of the UK would help.

I also think uniforms would be a good idea.

[Edison Smith]

Im with Jonathan Mackie - this all sounds like a bed of roses but I just can't see how it would happen in reality.

Unlikely to be taken up by those who most need discipline and a sense of civic persepctive.

The citizenship curriculum in schools has become a bit of a joke and this seems a bit of an extension to that.

Agreed. It comes across as a bit of clumsy Brown-style gimmickery, the kind of thing where - if the Tories got into government - would be quietly forgotten.

[Alistair]

This idea is chilling. It harks back to the days of conscription and the sinister youth movements of the far right and far left.

Gives the lie to Tory talk about a free society.

[Thersites]

I would have told them to get lost if they tried to foist this on me when I was 16 - and it hardly makes the Tories look good when they're flailing about trying to use the State to make people 'better'. Isn't that Labour's main failing?

Plus, the comments on this thread suggest, overall, that too many members have short memories - national service was done away with for a reason, namely it was a kind of slavery imposed on the young by the old. Hardly a vote winner, is it?

[Edison Smith]

In a way, it's all very 'un-British'.

A pledge of alliegance?? It's a bit God Bless America and apple pie.

And the military training bit reminds me of all those Russian kids playing Soviets in Putin-inspired summer camps. A touch odd.

...will be encouraged to undertake aid work, visit the elderly or undertake military training.

Cubs and Scouts do that sort of thing anyway don't they? Why not encourage attendance at Scouts somehow instead.

[Moral minority]

Peter Hatchet wants to make the scheme compulsory. That is slavery, on the anniversary of its abolition. You couldn't make it up!

This scheme is another gimmick, the sort that Ms Bagshawe is criticising Brown for in her CH column today. This sort of of scheme is best left to charities such as the Princes Trust or even the Scouts. If it is run by the state, it will be captured by the Left and turned into a PC indoctrination programme.

[Moral minority]

I agree with Edison Smith's post. This scheme also reminds me of the Hitler Youth.

[Will]

After scanning the document I am even less convinced that very many of the those the scheme would benefit most would choose to go on it.

If we are talking about children who have been involved in drugs, anti-social behaviour, truancy etc, they are not going to decide of their own free will to spend their summer holidays creating plays for the local hospice or teaching pensioners to use the internet.

This will be CV building for the middle class, nothing else. Limit it to young offenders and problem children, make it compulsory and more relevant to the people it is aimed at helping.

[Peter Hatchet]

Moral Minority/Alastair:

*SIGH* Nothing chilling/slavery about it. Don't be so silly.

National service was actually quite popular for those who attended. It was abolished on cost grounds. It was just too expensive in the early 60s.

All this talk of facism etc. is rubbish. Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France all have military service and they have much more stable and peaceful civil societies. You certainly can't accuse the Swiss of facism.

If you want a free and liberal society - you need this. Otherwise governments will forever be fruitlessly imposing laws on the rest of us, trying to compensate for the chronic lack of indiscipline and individual responsibility in the population.

Then again, I'm not sure that's your motive. You, like the troll "traditional tory", just attack Cameron for anything he does anyway.

[Think about it]

What happened to Cameron opposing all 'bring backery?'

Well, good. Seeing as Cameron is now looking right, and now open to 'bring backery', please may we revisit grammar schools as the 'new old' Cameron might actually support them!

[Ken Stevens]

Think about it | September 06, 12:30
"..please may we revisit grammar schools as the 'new old' Cameron might actually support them!.."

Whilst empathising with the sentiment, the problem with the "grammar" mantra is that it implies focus on academic excellence, thereby seeming to disparage any other avenue of educational advancement.

I believe in educational elitism based on demonstrated achievement, without constraints of parental affordability, but also to include vocational streams, not just academic.

Just another way of saying equality of opportunity, I suppose.

(Ex-grammar school lad, though without having achieved any distinction then or since!)

[Alistair]

"I agree with Edison Smith's post. This scheme also reminds me of the Hitler Youth."

Perhaps this should be called the Cameron Youth, MM.

As I said, this is a chilling memory of a totalitarian past

[Baskerville]

[This thread shows why the comments on CHome are becoming unreadable. A piece is posted, then a couple of intelligent comments are made. Then, for the rest of the day, we descend into a miasma of anti-Cameron hyperbole and abuse.]
For what it's worth, I am positive about this idea. Among other reasons: DC first raised it during the leadership campaign, demonstrating the consistency many claim he lacks. It's bold, conservative and easy to understand. It can be delivered by the 'little platoons' of charities and civic organisations at relatively little cost. Those who dismiss it as only applying to ‘well-behaved kids’ and not into drugs and drinking, seem happy for us simply to abandon them to drink and drugs. Don’t you think they have aspirations?
This is an imaginative plan that needs some working up, but is optimistic about the ambitions and capabilities of 16 year-olds. How long is it since we’ve seen any politician big-up 16 year-olds and trust them to take the opportunities put in front of them. Cameron is daring to have some ambition, to dream a little.
I also believe it’s the voluntary nature that would make it effective. Most youth crime, in my experience, is 10% troublemakers and 90% hangers on. This gives the 90% something to focus on, the chance to do some good, gain some ‘respect’ , meet new people (and girls/boys) and to get away from the bullies. Sure, some will dismiss it as a waste of time, but they might start to come around once they hear the stories of their peers who’ve done it. Shame you didn’t come along, Estate Hard Boy, it was cool and I met some soldiers/charity workers who are way harder/cooler than you’ll ever be.

[Moral minority]

Peter, being forced into a job or scheme that you don't want to join is slavery. It is not compatible with a free society.

The Swiss use their national service to train their people to use weapons. Switzerland has one of the highest levels of gun ownership in the world. Do you want to train the Chavs and hoodies to use guns? I don't.

I am not a troll, just a party member who voted for Cameron who feels very badly let down. I originally supported Dr Fox and then followed Daniel Hannan's personal advice to me to vote for Dave who also promised to take us out of the EPP.

I did not vote for the A list, higher environmental taxes or maintaining Labour's levels of government spending. Those are the policies that I would expect from the Liberal Democrats whom I have spent the last few years fighting in my constituency. The Lib Dems are at least promising to cut income tax, unlike Cameron's Conservatives.