To be baffled at Rishis National Service Plan

@ghostyslovesheets I think COVID had a lot of impact on NCS because obviously it couldn't run as normal.
Such a shame.

@WinterMorn yes generally nobody works 7 days a week.
But an 18 at university will be studying Monday to Friday and usually working weekends. If you run a business that wants weekend staff - but they can only work 3 weekends out of 4 then would you employ them? No - you wouldn't.
(Then if you have an 18 year old who is actually working full time then technically yes - they would have a couple of days free.
But why should their free time be dictated?
They work full time, pay tax, pay bills - they are a functioning adult)

An old boyfriend of mine did national service. His dad was a pastor so military service wasn't an option. He did a year as a health worker in a facility for very elderly, very unwell, very dangerous criminals with dementia instead.

So apart from the potential film rights in later life, I'm a no.

@Needmorelego it is but not everywhere and a lot of it is online - we can't access it here sadly. It should be relaunched and expanded.

I'd also be looking more at the model of The King's Trust - there is a charity expert at engaging and supporting young people with a wide range of challenges and needs and actually making a huge difference.

Well firstly, not many teens work 7 days a week, every week. Secondly I imagine there will be some sort of employer agreement or incentive.

@ghostyslovesheets it's still going.....but they keep it secret for some bizarre reason.

Also the point about NCS - probably the only decent thing Cameron did - when it was fully running it offered a really good opportunity for all young people. We would advocate for our care experienced young people to go and they where excellent at providing additional support for ND young people. Opening that up to more people and younger ages would be a better option - the Gov basically shut it down though!

@WinterMorn who is going to employ an 18 year old if they are going to have to have regular time off that would interfere with being able to run your business?
You wouldn't.

Again, I didn’t say that anywhere! Don’t let that interrupt your own little narrative though 🙂

This is a really important point - you don't just rock up and volunteer - what about CRB checks, health and safety training, training in general, supervision - all for a measly commitment of 25 hours?

I work with young people who are NEET for complex reasons - there aren't the volunteering opportunities out there as it is. I also worked as a volunteer/volunteer recruiter and trainer for 10 years - it's complex and you have to give volunteers something back - training and skills for one!

You'd get a massive buy in from a lot of 18 year olds in England if they remove or reduce uni tuition fees for those taking part.

@WinterMorn Actually the majority of teens are perfectly good human beings. It seems to be you who thinks they are responsible for the pervasive selfishness of society.
So why should my kids be lumped in with with these teens who apparently have no sense of society or consideration. They sound pretty low by your account.

It would be good if 18yo who have done some volunteering through schemes like DofE are exempt.

DS is at university and they encourage students to get involved with volunteering opportunities

It's like they aren't even pretending to be coming up with actual policies for govt any more. The national service thing is just a hurrah, a bit of campaign colouring. It is crazy that anyone in the media or MN is actually discussing it as if it was meant as a serious suggestion. There is no way on earth the Tories have thought about how and why it would be implemented. They have all gone full Liz Truss.

How exactly will it mean a year of enforced unemployment for 18 year olds?

It's clearly thought up by people who cannot fathom that a student may need a weekend job to afford food, rather than as good experience or something for their cv.

It would be great if everyone did it!

I don't think it is occurred to them that it will mean a year of enforced unemployment for 18 year olds, and mean that only those who don't need jobs can go to university. Or maybe the plan is to get rid of any notions of self improvement. Know your place plebs!

Why can’t we address this horrible pervasive selfishness by applying this scheme to everyone if the point is to address that. What’s the point in focussing on only 1.5% of the adult population every year? In ten years time 15% of the population will be altruistic angels while the remaining 85% of us will still be monstrous selfish fuckers. I for one am a massive shitbag and it would do me a world of good.

I haven’t seen any evidence that 18 year olds are more selfish than 30 year olds.

Please, show me where I have done that? Also, it’s interesting that you accuse me of generalising but are happy to label those who aren’t your “decent teens” as “low lives” 🤷‍♀️

@parkrun500club it should be expanded out

@WinterMorn So my unselfish decent teens have to go and be indoctrinated and live cheeky by jowl with low lifes because you are generalising an entire generation?

But ALL adults are selfish, not just the 18 year old ones. Why should 18 year olds be singled out?

I do think there should be more schemes for useful work experience, but nobody should be compelled to do it.

This will be brilliant-bring it on.