THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Foreword by David Cameron I first spoke about the idea for a national school leaver programme back in 2005 – before I was leader of this party, and before I had even thrown my hat in the ring. Some people said I shouldn’t talk about the idea of a national service scheme, but I was determined to do so. So as soon as I was elected leader, I held a meeting with youth leaders and set them a challenge. I said that I wanted to see a programme designed that would engage the young people of this country and give them a renewed sense of purpose, optimism and belonging. And yes, I said that I wanted to see something like national service – but nonmilitary national service. However, it would share some of the same spirit as national service in that it would bring together people from different backgrounds and different parts of the country as they stood on the cusp of adulthood. It had to be a residential programme, so that these young people would spend time living together, working together and playing together. Thanks to this programme, they would really get to know each other – and really come to appreciate the diversity of life in Britain. My original idea was that it should be compulsory, like national service was, to make it something the whole country could do together. But youth leaders told me that would have been the kiss of death. Our aim instead should be that it is universal, but not compulsory, and of such high quality and great benefit that everyone will want to take part. So why have I been so committed to this ambitious idea for so long? Simple. Take a look around you. There is a tragic waste of potential that shames the nation. It is a needless waste of talent. The young of this country are as passionate and idealistic as any generation before. Perhaps more passionate. They march against poverty, they set up online campaigns, they push their parents to recycle and they care deeply about climate change. But too many of our young people appear lost. Their lives lack shape or any sense of direction. So they take out their frustrations and boredom on the world around them. They get involved with gangs. They smash up the neighbourhood. They turn to drink and drugs. 1
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We want to offer them an alternative. In many societies, the journey from childhood to adulthood is marked by a rite of passage, marking the moment that children turn into adults, taking on board new rights and new responsibilities. They face a challenge to prove they are ready, and they rise to the challenge, standing taller and prouder as a result. So that is what National Citizen Service is all about. It is a two month programme for sixteen year-olds to come together in common purpose. It will mix up young people from different backgrounds. It will teach them the meaning of social responsibility by asking them to serve their communities. And above all, it will help the next generations to discover the depths of their talents and the real scale of their potential. As Mahatma Gandhi put it rather beautifully: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” We have set ourselves a challenge as well. A very ambitious one. Over time we want to offer this programme to all sixteen year olds who want to do it. That would mean hundreds of thousands of teenagers each year volunteering to do something positive for their nation. And every one of them would not only be playing their part in the life of the country, but gaining a renewed sense of direction in their own lives. Don’t just take my word for it. We have already run pilot programmes to test the idea and they are proving to be a runaway success. As one participant said: “Seeing that I could have a positive impact in people that I’d never met before basically just inspires me and lets me know that I could go to the world and make a difference.” It is hard to imagine a more positive ideal. I have always believed that National Citizen Service could be transformative – for both the people taking part and the well-being of the nation. This is about sowing the seeds of the Big Society – and seeing them burst into bloom in the years to come. And if I might take a glimpse into the future, I hope that when we see tomorrow’s social entrepreneurs, the people who will have set up charities, the community organisers, those that will give up their time to help the old and sick – I hope that all these people will trace it all back to one of the best and most fulfilling times of their lives.
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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Executive Summary Over the past four and half years, the Conservative Party has helped to raise over £2 million for independent charities to develop pilots for a national youth service programme. Building on these succesful pilots, which have taken place in London, Wales and the North West, a Conservative government will introduce National Citizen Service for 16 year olds. Service to be a rite of passage for all sixteen year olds in Britain, and a shared experience that will bring people from across the country together. National Citizen Service will achieve three core aims: A more cohesive society: By bringing young people of different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds together in teams, and giving them a series of intense shared experiences, we can help challenge preconceptions and build a more cohesive and integrated society. National Citizen Service (NCS) will be a 2 month summer programme for 16-year olds, involving both residential and at-home components. It will be delivered by independent charities, social enterprises and businesses. From the outset, NCS was conceived as a new feature of national life that would be backed and funded – but not run by – the state. It is a clear demonstration of our belief in social responsibility, not state control – and a key component of our plans to build a Big Society. We will provide funding for the initial two years of the phased
national roll-out from the Department of Communities and Local Government’s community cohesion programme, which has been strongly criticised by the Communities and Local Government Committee, chaired by a Labour MP. In the Spending Review in autumn 2010, we will provide details of funding for further expansion. National Citizen Service will be a priority in this Spending Review. A Conservative government sets for itself this ambitious goal: that over time, all 16 year-olds will take part in National Citizen Service. We want National Citizen
A more responsible society: By helping young people reflect on the responsibilities that come with being an adult citizen of this country, we can help build a more responsible society. A more engaged society: By providing a structured opportunity for young people to understand and serve their local community, we can help build a society in which people are more engaged in social action to tackle problems in their own communities.
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August 2005 – David Cameron proposes a national school leaver programme in a speech to the Foreign Policy Centre
The story so far Even before he was elected leader of the Conservative Party almost four and a half years ago, David Cameron was setting out his ambition to create a national programme for 16 year-olds which would bring together young people from different backgrounds, teach them new skills and encourage greater social responsibility. Since the start of 2006, David Cameron and the Conservative Party have worked with youth charities, social enterprises and business to help raise ÂŁ2 million to develop the programme and run pilots in London, Wales and the North West.
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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
AUGUST 2005 In a speech to the Foreign Policy Centre, David Cameron proposed a national school leaver programme: “The most powerful way to bring people together is to do things together. I am always struck when asking anyone of my father’s generation who did national service by the fact that they tend to reply in a similar way. It was something we all did together, irrespective of who we were, where we lived, where we came from, or what god we worshipped. But can that ever be enough? Isn’t there more we can do to enable young people to come together and give service to their country? ...
“Look at the best examples of organisations that encourage community service, particularly amongst the young. Why not challenge them and many other organisations – from the Armed Forces to community groups – to come up with ideas for a school leaver programme? Something that prepares teenagers for their responsibilities as adult citizens, that enables them to meet people from different backgrounds and to learn about the realities of life in different communities, and which teaches them the lifelong lesson that we’re all in this together; that we have duties to our fellow citizens; and that self-respect and self-esteem come from respecting others and putting their needs first.” NOVEMBER 2005 During his leadership campaign, David Cameron won the endorsement of youth charities and social enterprises on the case for a national school leaver programme – including backing from the Prince’s Trust.
In a speech to the Political Studies Association in November 2005, David Cameron said:
“This idea, and this approach, goes to the heart of my political philosophy. There’s not a single challenge that’s not best tackled by asking what we can all do about it – government, individuals, families, businesses, voluntary organisations. I believe that creating a national school leaver programme is exactly the kind of positive, optimistic change we need to make a tangible reality of the important discussions on British values that you’re having today.” JANUARY 2006 Reflecting his belief in social responsibility, not state control, David Cameron convened a major summit with leading youth organisations, including the Prince’s Trust, Duke of Edinburh Award, the National Union of Teachers and Business in the Community, to discuss how these organisations could play a role in the development and delivery of a national programme for young people. Afterwards, David Cameron said: “We had an incredibly positive and constructive meeting. Overall I was struck powerfully by the enthusiasm for this idea and by the wisdom and expertise of the leading organisations present at today’s meeting. I now look forward to the next stage of development in which we will be consulting with young people, parents, employers, practitioners, and communities on how to take the programme forward.” MARCH 2006 The Young Adult Trust, an independent registered charity, was
established. Its remit was to take forward David Cameron’s vision for a national school leaver programme by carrying out research amongst young people, working with youth leaders and organisations and running early stage pilots. Paul Oginsky was appointed Chief Executive of the Young Adult Trust. Paul was the joint founder, with Falklands War veteran Simon Weston, of Weston Spirit, an organisation that aims to provide personal and social development programmes and projects for socially excluded at-risk young people, increasing their access to opportunities and enable them to make informed decisions. SEPTEMBER 2006 The Young Adult Trust launched an initial pilot in Warrington, in partnership with the voluntary sector. This pilot comprised a 7day residential course for 25 young people from diverse backgrounds. The young people worked with mentors and adult supervisors to take on a range of mental and physical challenges over the course of the week. OCTOBER 2006 Speaking at an event to mark the conclusion of the Warrington pilot, David Cameron welcomed the work of the Young Adult Trust, and reiterated his commitment to creating a national school leaver programme. At this event, David Cameron said: “Our aim is to bring young people together, from all backgrounds, to engage constructively in our society, to give them the opportunities, and the encouragement, to fulfil the basic condition of human fellowship: social responsibility.” 5
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SUMMER 2007 The Young Adult Trust carried out a larger pilot in Croydon, with over 50 young people from diverse backgrounds taking part. This 9day residential pilot was conducted in partnership with Croydon Council, and took place during term-time. DECEMBER 2007 Having concluded the Croydon pilot, the Young Adult Trust completed the work it was established to achieve, and published its policy recommendations on the next steps towards a national programme for school leavers. In its final report, the Young Adult Trust stated: “The Young Adult Trust explored how youth-based and other organisations could develop and deliver together a nationally scaled intervention which supports young people’s transition into young adulthood. In pulling together a coherent methodology, which we believe
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could make this approach a national level programme, the time has come for those with resources to pick up the baton. As such we now put our findings out into the sector and the wider political arena. In this way political parties, and organisations with an interest in this field, can take these ideas forward and resource them appropriately.” JANUARY 2008 A Conservative Party policy group is launched, headed by Michael Gove, to take forward the recommendations of the Young Adult Trust, and work with youth charities and social enterprises to develop an implementation plan for a national programme. SEPTEMBER 2008 David Cameron published the National Citizen Service ‘policy green paper’, produced by the Conservative Party policy group. This policy paper for the first time sets out detailed proposals for the content of the programme. These
proposals would then be discussed with youth leaders and organisations, and tested in further pilot groups. The event is attended by Amir Khan and representatives from some of Britain’s leading youth charities. MARCH 2009 Building on the policy group’s work, David Cameron announced the launch of ‘The Challenge’, run by the Challenge Network. The Challenge Network is an independent charity. It’s aim is to work with independent providers to develop and run larger-scale pilots, and roll out a national programme over time. SUMMER 2009 The Challenge launches large scale pilots with young people from in Southwark and Hammersmith & Fulham. Over the course of these pilots, 158 young people are taken to an outbound centre in Wales and to the Lake District, as well as carrying out projects in their local communities.
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Evaluation of Summer 2009 pilots Last autumn, researchers at the University of Strathclyde were invited to carry out an independent evaluation of the large-scale National Citizen Service pilots run by The Challenge in Southwark and Hammersmith & Fulham in July and August 20091. This independent evaluation showed that the National Citizen Service pilots were highly successfull, with 100% of participants surveyed reporting that they would encourage other young people to come on the programme2. This research also found that participants’ trust in others increased as a result of the programme, and participants reported that they felt more engaged with British life. In addition, qualitative interviews with young people who took The Challenge pilot in 2009 showed that the programme had achieved its core aims of social mixing, supporting the transition to adulthood and community engagement, and being a fun and challenging programme.
“It gives you a chance to socialise… with people you usually wouldn’t see.”
“The challenge has made us socially aware or socially stronger in a sense.”
“We learnt how to lead and see everyone’s strengths and weaknesses so you could progress”
In addition to the University of Strathclyde evaluation, when the independent think tank, Demos, presented a range of civic service schemes – including current government schemes – to a forum of diverse young people, they found that the NCS programme was the most popular.3
“It has made me confident in myself and makes me feel like I can get through anything, so long as I have people I trust” “It made me think about my community” Selected participant responses to the University of Strathclyde evaluation: “I met new people and learnt how to handle different people”
“Seeing that I could have a positive impact on people that I’d never met before basically just inspires me and lets me know that I could go to the world and make a difference”
1 The baseline and second questionnaires were administered to participants in the second and third waves of the Challenge programme 2009. The baseline questionnaires were administered before the programme began, with the second questionnaires
completed once participants had completed the first three weeks of the project 2 The University of Strathclyde: The Challenge Programme Evaluation 3 Sonia Sodha & Dan Leighton, Service Nation, Demos, December 2009
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What is it? 1. Aims and key principles We believe that a structured residential programme for sixteen year-olds can help achieve three core aims: A more cohesive society: By bringing young people of different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds together in teams, and giving them a series of intense shared experiences, we can help challenge preconceptions and build a more cohesive and integrated society. A more responsible society: By helping young people reflect on the responsibilities that come 8
with being an adult citizen of this country, we can help build a more responsible society. A more engaged society: By providing a structured opportunity for young people to understand and serve their local community, we can help build a society in which people are more engaged in social action to tackle problems in their own communities. We want to make NCS an attractive proposition for Britain’s 16 yearolds.
It will be demanding, to ensure that the significance of participation is recognised by all. Employers and universities will recognise the value of the programme. Each component of the programme will promote a ‘can do’ spirit. Participants can attend with their friends. They can learn about raising funds. Past participants will recommend it. It will be a fun and challenging adventure.
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The programme will have something to offer every type of young person: It will help those with low confidence to make the most out of life.
Those who are overly academic will discover there’s more to life. Drifters will gain a sense of achievement and focus. Average achievers will be inspired to stretch their potential.
For isolated individuals, it will be a chance to make friends. For high achievers, it will be a new chance to shine and support others. It will teach tough young people to respect others’ opinions.
Those who successfully complete the programme will take part in a graduation ceremony to celebrate their achievement. Graduates will then be able to take advantage of an alumni programme, which can guide and support them to identify suitable opportunities to build on their experience of NCS.
The other supporting mentors are voluntary roles. This includes:
2. NCS Programme outline National Citizen Service will be a two month national programme, starting in the summer holidays after GCSEs. Participants will be placed in teams of twelve for the duration of the programme. Each team will be carefully constructed to achieve a social mix, and there will be five teams of twelve on each NCS programme – with 60 people going through the programme together. Week 1: Personal challenge and teamwork Full-time residential team building programme away from participants’ local community, with a focus on teamwork and outdoor physical challenges. Week 2: Skills and service Full-time residential programme based in participants’ home community, with a focus on developing new skills and serving specified groups in the local neighbourhood, for example elderly people. Week 3: Social action While living at home, participants design and carry out a social action project in their community on a full-time basis.
Mentors Each team of twelve participants will be supported by a team of four mentors through the course of the programme. The Senior Mentor will lead the team and have responsibility for ensuring their safety and assisting their personal development throughout the three weeks of fulltime activities. They will ensure that the programme is challenging, yet accessible to all, including those with particular needs, such as disabled young people. Being a Senior Mentor is a paid, full-time role requiring significant experience of youth and community work in a residential setting and at least three days of residential training. Each Senior Mentor will report to a Team Leader, who is responsible for each cohort of young people doing the programme at the same time.
A Team Mentor who will help to guide the team during the second week of residential activity. University students will be good candidates for this role. A Community Mentor who will work with teams full-time during the Social Action Week and parttime during the month that follows, bringing the project management skills that the teams will need to design and deliver their social action project. We envisage many of these roles will be filled by employees seconded from business. An Associate Mentor who will be a young person who has taken part in the programme in previous years. The Associate Mentor will support the teams full-time during the Social Action Week and part-time during the month that follows, helping them with the design and delivery of their social action projects.
Weeks 4-8: Ongoing social action While living at home, participants work on their social project on a part-time basis, structured around their existing education or work commitments. 9
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3. NCS Programme detail Week 1: Personal challenge and teamwork The first team building week will provide an opportunity for personal and social development through a series of physical challenges to push participants out of their comfort zones. Participants in the group of sixty will be taken out of their communities and into an outdoor environment for a week. This may be a dedicated activity centre, like those run by Outward Bound, or a hostel or campsite close to open spaces. Tough outdoor activities and daily team challenges will be designed to help each team of young people to bond, build personal responsibility, self confidence and self awareness. Physical activities will include climbing, abseiling, kayaking, camping, and night-hikes. Each day, a different team member will be nominated to lead the team – this will continue throughout the full-time programme so that every young person has led the team for at least one day. At the end of every day, mentors will lead a team discussion about the experiences of the day and what team members have learned about themselves, teamwork and leadership. These discussions should also provide an opportunity to discuss important concepts such as adulthood, community and Britishness. Participants will complete this first week of the programme feeling physically stretched, mentally stronger, and an integral part of their team. Week 2 – Skills and service The second week will involve team members returning to their locality, but staying in a residential environment (such as university halls of residence) away from home. Before the start of the programme, individuals will have chosen an 10
activity such as music, business, drama, engineering or sport and will be allocated to a team of others with the same interest. Teams will use their shared passion to build on their teamwork and project management skills and develop an interest in community service. The week will include a day dedicated to serving the older generation, a day dedicated to serving the younger generation and will culminate in a day serving the whole community. This service might take the form of coaching young children in a sport, putting on an entertainment for patients in a hospital or offering a bike repair service to the local community. Throughout the week, the young people will be encouraged to think about how they come across as they deal with people of different ages in the community, and they will be helped to present themselves more effectively. Each team will continue to meet at the end of every day with their mentors to discuss what they have learned from their experiences and evaluate their own performance as a team. At the end of this second week, participants will have a better understanding of their role – and the role of others – in their community, and recognise their power to make a difference through serving others. Week 3 – Social action The third week will involve teams taking action to strengthen their local community. In the Social Action Week, teams will be assigned a small neighbourhood in their local area for which they must take responsibility. While they return home at night, they will be working full days, each one ending with a team discussion of what they have learnt, as in previous weeks.
The teams will begin by exploring their neighbourhood and meeting local people and representatives from local businesses, public services and charities. Using this understanding of the local area, and in close consultation with local people, each team will decide on a project that will deliver tangible benefit to the local community and will agree a plan to deliver it in 50 hours on weekends and evenings over the next month. They will have to pitch their plan to a “Dragons’ Den” style panel of local business and community leaders, in front of all sixty young people in their group. The panel will subject each team’s plans to close scrutiny, recommending amendments as necessary, and will have the power to award a small amount of funding to facilitate the social action plans. The team pitch to the panel will mark the end of the full time element to the programme, and the start of a month of social action. Weeks 4-8: Ongoing social action The fourth to eighth weeks comprise a period of social action, during which participants will deliver their social action project and show that they can fit community service around their other commitments. This month of service will have to include a day on which the team takes part in a visible act of service in their community, such as renovating public space for Community use. Teams will also deliver a community day to bring local residents together. The design of this event will be down to the teams to plan in consultation with their community, but should bring people together from across the community.
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Graduation Graduation will take place after the completion of each team’s social action projects and will be an opportunity to celebrate the success of those who have
completed a tough, but fulfilling programme. Graduation ceremonies will bring together teams from all over the region. As well as celebrating success, the graduation should act as a launch pad for the
alumni programme: using speakers and videos to showcase the best of British and to inspire young people to use what they have learnt on NCS to continue to give service to society.
4. NCS: Key issues and opportunities Qualifications The young people who take part in this programme will do so for the experience. They may choose to submit their participation towards any award or qualification which they are taking, but the programme itself will not offer an academic qualification. The programme is an experience in and of itself. All that is asked is that participants fully engage with the programme, work together and demonstrate effort. Young people with special needs We will engage with organisations that work with young people who have particular needs. It is anticipated that every component of the programme will include opportunities for young people with special needs, and it will be the undertaking of the participants to look after one another’s needs as far as possible. Specialist organisations may also be approached to supply staff for the running of the programme. Single-sex NCS Just as some young men and women prefer to attend single-sex schools, we recognise that some families may prefer a single-sex NCS programme. To ensure that NCS is open to the widest possible range of people from different backgrounds, if there is demand for single-sex modules, we will ensure appropriate provision.
The most hard-to-reach young people We recognise that there are many organisations in the UK’s voluntary sector and penal system doing an excellent job with the most hard-toreach young people. This is especially important as once a young person enters the programme he/she will not be given any dispensation for unacceptable behaviour. Hard-to-reach young people should be encouraged to take part in this programme because it offers them a fresh chance to succeed, on a level playing field with everyone else. NCS International There will also be a national NCS Awards event in which the best Social Action projects from around the country are showcased. The winning teams and other outstanding graduates from each region will be offered the opportunity to take part in NCS International, a programme of social action projects in developing countries that will be sponsored by DFID. This should provide a real incentive for NCS participants to excel, as well as offering the lifechanging experience of serving in developing countries to young people of all backgrounds.
Alumni Programme We will create an NCS Alumni Programme which will build on the enthusiasm and relationships generated by NCS to help build a stronger society. The Senior Mentor, who will have developed a close relationship with each team member over two months, will form a key role in the alumni programme. Mentors will be charged with helping NCS graduates find opportunities for further service, and pointing those who do not have firm post-16 plans towards opportunities in apprenticeships, further education courses and work placements. The alumni website will showcase examples of service from across the country and facilitate volunteering opportunities. Training sessions and reunion events for graduates will ensure that the impact of NCS is enduring. We anticipate that many NCS graduates will go on to be mentors to young people on future NCS programmes.
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Making it happen Diversity Social mixing is one of the central aims of NCS, so providers will have to ensure that each programme they offer reflects a broad social make-up. Providers must also make every effort to include harder-toreach groups, including disabled people, children in care, people with learning and behavioural difficulties and people who have been through the criminal justice system. We will explore the option of a payment premium for excluded groups to help incentivise mixing and cover the additional costs incurred. Providers will also be required to promote mixing of people from different parts of the country to help break down geographic barriers. One way in which this could be done is to bring teams from different parts of the country together at an outward bound centre in the Team Building Week.
1. Implementation principles Competition From the outset, NCS was conceived as a new part of national life that would be backed and funded – but not run by – the state. It is a clear demonstration of our belief in social responsibility, not state control – and a key component of our plans to build a Big Society. We do not believe that national or regional monopolies are likely to deliver high quality programmes and will therefore require that the commissioning arrangements we put in place for NCS will stimulate competition between different 12
providers, old and new, large and small, charitable and private sector. Choice While we want NCS to be a shared experience for every group of 16 year olds, we are determined that young people should be able to make a choice about which provider would best suit themselves, their classmates and their friends. It may not be possible to offer each young person an individual choice, but we will seek to develop a system which enables classes or year groups in a school to choose between a number of alternative providers.
Partnership We want NCS to enhance the capacity of the youth sector in Britain. Existing organisations will be encouraged to participate as delivery agents and will be given funding and contracts of a length that allows for long term investment, planning and relationship building. We will work to ensure that the mentors trained for NCS become a valuable new resource for the youth sector. Transparency We will require every NCS provider to undertake formal assessment of the quality and impact of its programmes and we will arrange for these to be published online in an open and standardised format. We
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
will also require providers to create and promote a website on which young people can publish reviews of different NCS providers and of the different aspects of the programme. Sponsorship In line with our commitment to social responsibility, we will encourage young people and their schools to provide a small
contribution towards the cost of their summer NCS programme. This will encourage small scale community fundraising activities, involving parents, neighbours and local businesses. NCS providers will also be encouraged to raise funds themselves, in addition to the funding they will receive from
government. These funds will be used by providers to enhance the quality of the NCS experience. We will encourage the establishment of an an independent and privately-run NCS Coalition – equivalent to the Scouts Association – which will stimulate and coordinate sponsorship for NCS on a national level.
2. Implementation plan for national pilots Commissioning national pilots Immediately after the election, a NCS team will start to oversee the commissioning of national pilots in 2011/12 and 2012/13. The team will specify: The communities for which NCS pilots will be commissioned in 2011/12. This will include a mix of urban, surburban and rural neighbourhoods. The detail of the programme that independent providers will be required to offer. The other conditions that providers must meet, such as minimum staffing levels and the fundamental requirement that every team of young people undertaking NCS must be socially mixed and together reflect the diversity of the community from which they come. The NCS team will invite potential providers of NCS to submit proposals for the 2011/12 national pilots. This will be done in a way that gives the successful providers time to recruit staff, book accommodation and begin marketing the programme to young people in the autumn term of 2010.
Potential providers All private and charitable organisations will be eligible to bid to deliver one of the pilots. We hope that existing youth charities (many of whom made a major contribution to the development of our ideas for National Citizen Service) will want to become providers of NCS. We would also welcome bids from private companies (e.g. those already supplying the youth adventure and expeditions market). It is likely that the successful bidders will be organisations with a track record in providing training and personal development programmes to young people. But we want to encourage smaller, local groups to organise themselves into consortia and bid to become providers of NCS pilots in 2012/13. Quality control and accreditation In view of the tight timeframe, there will be no process of preaccreditation for potential providers of NCS pilots in 2011/12. Contracts will only be awarded to providers who meet all of the conditions described in the tender documentation.
The NCS team will facilitate the establishment of an independent and privately run NCS Coalition, which will oversee quality control and the accreditation of the NCS pilots. The NCS Coalition will bring together representatives of leading youth organisations and other stakeholders to work in partnership with government on the further development of NCS. In the first instance, the Coalition will be asked to conduct quality control for the 2011/12 pilots and to develop systems to measure the impact of the programme. The Coalition will also be invited to advise on pre-accreditation procedures for potential providers for the 2012/13 pilots. Roll-out planning The NCS team will spend 2011/12 consulting with the NCS Coalition and local authorities on different ways in which a national NCS programme might be commissioned for national roll-out from 2013/14. We would expect any final commissioning structure to: offer young people a choice of different providers (either individually or as a year group in a school or local authority area); 13
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ensure total transparency about the impact of the programme and to publish young people’s reviews of different providers online;
incentivise providers to introduce NCS graduates to opportunities for further education, employment and community service; and
encourage young people (and their schools and communities) to raise part of the cost of the programme to match government funding.
‘Prevent’, concluding that it has wasted money and undermined community cohesion4:
which bring communities together, rather than encourage separation.
Costs and Funding Based on the development work completed so far, and on the experience of running pilot programes, we estimate that the cost of national NCS pilots will be £13m in 2011 and £37m in 2012. These costs will in part be met by sponsorship. The bulk of the costs, however, will be borne by government. Over two years, funding of £50 million will be redirected from the Department of Communities and Local Government’s contribution to the multi-departmental ‘Prevent’ programme. The Communities and Local Government Committee, which is chaired by a Labour MP, has published a critical report on
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“We are concerned that much ‘Prevent’ money has been wasted on unfocused or irrelevant projects” “We agree with the majority of our witnesses that ‘Prevent’ risks undermining positive cross-cultural work on cohesion and capacity building to combat exclusion and alienation in many communities.” We have long called for a complete review of the ‘Prevent’ strategy. Our emphasis has always been to remove the confusion between counter-terrorism and community integration. We would seek to shift the emphasis to funding groups
Our public spending review in the autumn of 2010 will identify longterm funding for the national roll-out of NCS from 2013 onwards, with NCS funding made a priority for youth funding. However, in line with our belief in social responsibility, and our desire to make NCS truly challenging for young people, we will also encourage young people to seek sponsorship for participating in National Citizen Service. We will also enable philanthropists and business to get involved in the sponsorship process as a demonstration of their commitment to building the Big Society.
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Endorsements of our plans for a national citizen service for young people Over the past four and half years, we have worked with youth charities, social enterprises and leading national figures to develop our plans for National Citizen Service. Here are some supportive comments from some of the people that have worked with us on the development of NCS since 2006:
“We live in a dislocated society where polar opposites of living standards, community spirit, quality
of life and opportunities exist. Something brave and radical is needed to reverse this trend. The NCS - the first of its kind is, to my mind, both vital and essential in targeting and resolving the route courses of such a society and as such has my full support. I urge
others to do likewise and in doing so, bring back a true sense of community spirit�. Josh Lewsey MBE BSc PGDL, England rugby international and British Lion
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NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE
"City Year London is keen to support the development of a continuum of service opportunities, such as National Citizen Service, that not only give young people the space for personal growth but also have a tangible impact on their local community." Sophie Livingstone, Chief Executive, City Year London
“As the world’s leading achievement award for young people, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award welcomes all initiatives that provide young people with the opportunity to thrive and become active citizens . The proposals for the National Citizenship Service share the DofE’s ambition to encourage all young people in their self development. Research for the DofE demonstrates that young people respond positively to the type of challenges and opportunities outlined in the proposal. “Whilst the DofE works with young people from all parts of our society, research on the impact of the DofE shows that the greatest impact of our activity is on the disadvantaged and disengaged. We will be working to ensure that participation in the National Citizenship Service will be able to contribute towards their achievement of a full Duke of Edinburgh’s Award”. Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
"NCS could become a tipping point in creating positive images of young people - in their communities and in the media. Enabling young people to have 16
voice, and engage in communications, should be a key thread throughout the programme." Caroline Diehl MBE, Chief Executive, Media Trust
“Developing young people who have a sense of responsibility and who recognise that they can achieve more by working together, is essential to the creation of the kind of Britain we all want to live in - where neighbours know each other and communities are strong, vibrant, positive places to live. National Citizen Service builds on the Raleigh values that challenge young people to care about each other and aims to give them the skills to build those strong healthy communities.” Stacey Adams, Chief executive, Raleigh
“Changemakers welcomes the launch of the National Citizen Service programme, which we believe can play a major part in supporting young people’s transition to adulthood, developing their sense of purpose, optimism and belonging and unleashing their leadership potential.” Adam Nichols, Chief Executive, Changemakers
"YouthNet believes that our websites (TheSite.org, Lifetracks.com and Do-it.org.uk) offering a wide range of information and help to young people can play a major role in the development of the National Citizens' Service, and we look forward to being closely involved." Fiona Dawe OBE, Chief Executive, YouthNet
“Catch22 has long championed the needs of those who face difficulties as they make the transition to adulthood and we warmly welcome a well-funded National Citizenship scheme that positively invests in our young people. Any scheme that is developed must work with local charities that already have experience in the field and are able to engage with those that are seen as ‘hard to reach’. It will require quality staff and mentors plus the right kinds of activities that appeal to young men and young women. Variety is the key!” Joyce Moseley, Chief Executive, Catch22
“I am delighted that the Conservatives’ proposed National Citizen Service will be including at its core a significant residential experience for sixteen year-old school leavers. I know from long and varied experience what a powerful influence for good a well worked-out residential week or fortnight can be for young people. For very many it can be truly lifechanging, and it will be particularly valuable as part of a programme aimed at helping the transition from adolescence to the adult world.” Chris Green M.A., Founding Director, Active Training and Education Trust, Convener, Summer Camps Forum
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
“I have been involved in youth charities for over thirty years and support the proposed National Citizen Service programme. This new initiative will help to inspire Britain’s 16-year-olds to do more for themselves and their community. “As a father of three teenage daughters I recognise the potential benefits of a six week programme which involves personal development, community work and a challenging experience. By inspiring our young people in these areas we will provide a life changing experience and help them in their transition to adulthood.” David Hempleman-Adams
“The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust inspires young people utilising retired world class sports performers as mentors and role models, we support the National Citizen Service programme not only because of the impact this will have on our youth but also because it will harness the combined efforts of the voluntary sector”.
“4Children knows that many young people enjoy making a positive contribution to their local communities and are keen to get involved in local projects and volunteer work. Those who do report how much they get out of it in terms of feeling part of the community and developing important skills such as empathy and team-work. “Initiatives such as the proposed National Citizen Service play an important role in encouraging more young people to participate in volunteer or community work and in some cases can turn lives around. Particularly for young people who wouldn’t normally seek these opportunities out, they can inspire a strong sense of citizenship and help them manage some difficult decisions about their future career paths."
“This is a bold and encouraging initiative. It appears that the NCS ambition is to provide challenging and meaningful personal development for young people, rather than a basic residential experience with lots of “fun” outdoor activities. In our experience, the two are often confused, can be hard to tell apart at a superficial level but are two very different things. If NCS is to make a real difference to society, it must go down the costlier but infinitely more cost effective personal and social development path. Initial indicators are positive”. Nick Barrett, CEO, The Outward Bounds Trust
Anne Longfield, Chief Executive, 4Children
Julie Whelan, Chief Executive, DKH Legacy Trust
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VOTE
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