I don't mean military training, but a set period of at least 18 months, where school leavers give something back to the community, paid at an apprenticeship rate.
It could provide young people with transferable skills and experiences useful for the work place or University. This year could focus on life skills, many of which can be picked up as a matter of course, without too much training.
It could start with 3 months where basic life skills are taught, such as dealing with your finances, running a house (bills and cleaning), communication skills, how to be a good employee, just as a brief example. For a set time it could include a residential, where a group of young adults maintain a house, put theoretical skills into practise. A bit like a taster of independent life.
Then in set blocks, options are provided so that experience can be gained in many different areas. It would help a young adult with what they want to do career wise, either helping them apply for a training scheme in a certain field, or a University course linked to an ultimate career goal. One of the blocks, focussing on giving back to the community, which could involve working to make a difference for others in a positive way.
If a person had military interests, as an example, they could gain experience of what a soldier does, but apply it to the local community. As that is something soldiers do, peace keeping exercises. In practical terms, helping out of a weekend, maintaining order alongside bouncers and the police. The same with events. Helping those heavily intoxicated at centres which watch over persons deemed at risk, like St John's Ambulance do now. Others could provide hands on help for the homeless at a soup shelter, serving food, talking to service users to see if you can help.
Maybe I'm totally bonkers, I just think it would be helpful to get further experience, in an area of interest, to see if it's what they imagined. Work experience for a week isn't overly useful. Teaching life skills and giving experience of living without parents, help promotes independence, plus an understanding of trying to optimise your life. So keeping a living space clean, preparing food, managing money, avoiding debt.
The weekend/event example teaches them invaluable skills, seeing first hand how a night out can go wrong, being prepared, being responsible etc. Taking away the rose tinted beliefs around getting wasted and what constitutes having a good time.
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To think post GCSE's/A-Levels National Service is a good idea
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ElvishArchdruid · 18/02/2017 02:55
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