National Citizen Service must reach out to all young people

A national citizen service for young people could be a very positive experience if it reaches out to those who really need it and provides an opportunity to broaden young people's horizons.

Joyce Moseley, Catch22 chief executive says

'Some young people will need significant amount of support to get the most out of such a scheme. As a voluntary scheme it will need close monitoring to see who is participating and work done to reach out to those who might not otherwise come forward.'

The part of the scheme that asks young people to give something back to their communities is the right approach. Catch22 knows that those young people often seen as trouble makers can gain so much from informal volunteering particularly programmes that benefit others or the environment.

Giving something back is integral to what Catch22 does. Take Community Space Challenge for example, which encourages young people to stand up and make a difference to their communities and turns it into social action; encouraging them to grab a shovel or a paintbrush and give unloved spaces in their communities a make-over.

Joyce Moseley adds

'Given our experience if it is seen we can be of help with an expanded national citizen service, where hard to reach young people can be put at the centre of shaping a drive to improve situations for themselves, others and the places where they live, and have a bit of fun too, then we would want to be involved.'

'If it becomes a scheme that takes a one-size-fits-all approach then it won’t be truly national. There is a genuine wish to make it serve all young people, appeal to what moves them to get involved and help them gain skills, experience and qualifications that help them get on. In this way we will all benefit.'