To be baffled at Rishis National Service Plan

It’s not volunteering if you’re forced to do it.

Yes, some cover costs. I can’t answer a hypothetical question, but I imagine that the expense and practicality of setting this up and running it will be discussed and worked out.

@WinterMorn if teens haven't had any direction or structure in their lives by 18 - then what on earth have their schools being doing.
Getting that should start from age 4 when they start school.

DD1 has had a PT job at the weekend since she turned 16, now 18 and about to go off to university. It's hard enough for young people to find and retain a weekend job without having to miss a day's work "volunteering" one weekend out of four.

If you want young people to do this, make it paid work experience. Why should they give their time freely at a time when they or their parents can least afford it and they need to be in education or gaining skills and work experience?

Make those who have vast inherited wealth do community work instead.

It’s trumpian
like building a wall on the border with Mexico, sending asylum seekers to Rwanda…. Not a sensible solution to anything, but very media friendly if you just want news about you - any news.

DC2 volunteers in a Shelter shop as they take kids 14+. A lot of charity shops only take 16+.

I can’t see where I have said children should volunteer?

The volunteering is a bad idea. Some 18 year olds have full time jobs, why should they volunteer at the weekend - why them rather than a 30 year old for example. Some 18 year olds are at university and need to work at weekends to survive - I couldn't have managed at university without my part time job and that job wouldn't have been possible if I had to volunteer a weekend a month. Unsurprisingly I think Sainsbury’s would have wanted a more consistent cashier. Some 18 year olds are parents - are they to pay for childcare to do this compulsory volunteering?

Tories have confirmed today there will be no exemptions if you work full time even if you're the main breadwinner, and no exemptions if the 18 year old is a carer.
(I say they've confirmed today, obviously this confirmation is irrelevant because this policy won't happen).

@WinterMorn do they really? Cover costs?
Would a charity pay for a taxi to get a teen to them on a Sunday because there's no bus service?

I meant to say, more places than not don't cover expenses nowadays too.

I manage a team of volunteers and it's hard enough sometimes with adults who actually want to be there.

I can only imagine the shit show if it's a bunch of teens being forced to be there.

Most of the places I know that use volunteers are 18+ only because having children volunteering means extra paperwork, training plus dealing with moaning parents.

There's no way there would be enough placements for every child to do something that's actually helpful.

I agree, which is why in one of my earlier posts I said this scheme should be expanded further.

There are many people who don't do those things. Not just teens.

@NotAgainWilson yes NCS is still going. Unfortunately it's barely promoted.
I do think it looks more suited to a younger age group which is why I think it should start from age 12.
Waiting until after GCSEs is too late for many teens.

Many volunteer placements will cover expenses

It seems like something devised by people who never had to hold down a part-time job to get through uni/college. How are you supposed to do that if you’re spending a weekend a month volunteering?

And for people running the services that are apparently going to benefit from this it’ll probably be more bother than anything else!

Prior to Brexit teens were able to go abroad very easily to Europe and get some fantastic work and life experience. I'd value a proper version of that returning (as an option), than the watered down, bureaucratic, limited version it was replaced with post Brexit.

@RubySloth a lot of teens do volunteer and many would actually like to.
With many things though there are barriers for many due to costs.
It all very well wanting to volunteer but if you can't get to where you need to be because there's no public transport or you can't afford public transport - what can you do?
This is why I think volunteer schemes should be done as part of the school curriculum because that way no one misses out.

The one thing I don’t understand about Sunak is why he thought it was such a good idea to announce a hugely unpopular and unpractical idea during campaigning season.

…. unless… is it to pass the blame? If they have underinvested on defence for soo many years and now we reject such proposal by voting for someone else, if things go pear shaped it will be our fault? Not theirs?

I’m completely against it unless it is compulsory for everyone who hasn’t previously done NS, regardless of age. Teenage DC1 has done tonnes of volunteering, has it been good for her? Maybe but great, can it be evidenced that the 4 years worth she has done has already been completed and she can get on with uni, fitting her job around lectures, tutorials and labs and all the sport she wants to do that her uni choice was in part based on. Am sure there are lots of people that would be better placed to do it than she is right now and it may be of great benefit to them, who knows, but selecting a particular cohort based on their age is just shit.

With all due respect, there are also many teens that DON’T do any of the things you mention and would benefit hugely from direction and structure.

Voluntary work should be voluntary. If you make it mandatory, it then becomes forced unpaid labour.

Mine volunteers soon as they hit 14, it gives them skills and more chance of employment. We are a low income family and I can't afford for them to do lots of activities, so it is a good way for them to get work ethic and learn new skills. I cant say he's over the moon but it's definitely better then him sitting on his computer.

Well, nothing is ever going to be a perfect fit for everyone and I am sure they will factor in ways to deal with those who have already signed up for the military, or who are studying abroad, or have caring responsibility etc.

It wouldn't it would add to the stress. Many teens work, study and try to save at the same time to pay rent, uni costs, transport costs etc. Life is expensive, the last thing they need is lots of hours spent doing extra work for no money.