ok, lets actually have a quick vote on the Compulsory National Service at 18 idea

[cannonballz]

I dont think any of the threads running have an actual poll. I can't believe anyone would go along with enforced labour of 18 year olds, particularly when dictated by someone so immensely wealthy, privileged and so utterly out of touch.

Lets see

Farage has said that the idea is a joke and totally impractical.

There are disabled people who do voluntary work.

Its just more nonsense from a party with a proven track record of incompetence and cronyism. I shouldn't imagine even they think its a good idea.

No, I just realised my big boo-boo there. Of course, I meant the Tories.

Ridiculous. My teenagers have enough on their plates with driving lessons, studying for exams, weekend jobs, university visits and enrichment hobbies (that are very important for physical and mental health). The government shouldn't assume all teenagers are knife yielding hoodie wearing layabouts and realise most are actually involved positively in society. The government should instead put money into Scouting, Guiding, Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh, who are already heavily involved with volunteering.

Apologies, I had a temporary brain outage and wrote 'Labour' when of course I meant 'the Conservatives'.

Lol by far the biggest snowflakes in existence are the permanently outraged and offended daily mail / express reading boomers.

But I agree this is a complete non-starter. The tories know they're done for at least the next 5 years and they're only hope is to somehow keep enough MPs to form a semi-legitimate opposition.

The right wing voters they've spent much of the last 5 years desperately trying to woo have abandoned them and are lapping up whatever nonsense Reform are putting out.

The middle class, middle aged, more centrist voters that traditionally vote for them have been largely abandoned and seem to consider themselves politically homeless now.

The youth vote has never been a concern for the tories so optics of how this looks to them won't even enter their minds.

All they have left are the died in the wool tories party members and the bitter and angry DM/Express readers.

This 'policy' is designed to keep then happy and that's about it.

Do you think the armed forces or police would be better with ad hoc untrained and unexperienced 18 year olds? It would just be a lot more work for them.

I am intrigued by the volunteering in the NHS idea. Doing what precisely? The NHS needs more skilled employees, not a never ending carousel delivering untrained and quite likely unwilling teenagers. And I bet the last thing the permanent staff will want is to have responsibility for these "volunteers" on top of their actual job. Presumably if there is any patient contact or potential access to confidential information there will be some kind of vetting process, DBS checks etc which will cost a fortune. Plus there'd be an induction/training of some kind surely? Even if they're doing nothing more technical than serving meals there will still be mandatory training for things like hygiene, food safety, moving and handling, fire procedures etc I'd assume.You can't just let someone walk in and start working. So all that, for what will probably amount to just over 3 weeks worth of work once you taking training out. They might just about have got useful before they leave! How much benefit is that going to be to either the NHS or the individual? Ridiculous idea.

There was an article on the BBC News website the other day about a young woman who has had her heart set on joining the army for a long time and who has been working hard towards that end with her plans and training.

She has just been rejected by the army, because her mum and aunt have both had breast cancer and they think she may have the same linked gene as them.

So they will refuse somebody who is very keen, committed and willing to put in all the legwork; but apparently, they will be expected to welcome with open arms somebody who normally hangs around in the park all day drinking cider and smoking weed?!

How is there an age limit for volunteering for community-minded tasks?

Even if you do have other important prior commitments for those same days that will just have to be patient and wait for you in the meantime?!

It is a ridiculous idea, but I'm presuming things like helping fill up water jugs and chatting to people without visitors may be useful, but they would still need to be supervised. It doesn't matter anyway. It won't happen

Who are the Tories trying to appeal to with this idea - I'm baffled.

How to engage the disengaged and 'get them out of their bubble' - force them to do some crappy voluntary work such as picking up rubbish - because apparently only the most skilled and able will be going into the armed forces.

DS is 18, he'll shortly be starting a degree apprenticeship, he'll be working full time 4 days a week and have one day of uni study. Is he then supposed to spend his weekends volunteering?

This money should be spent on supporting kids that school doesn't work for at a much earlier age - ie 14. The kids who don't have parental support and end up falling through the cracks. Schools or colleges providing the option of functional maths and English alongside introductions to a range of more hands on skills at a much earlier age.

There are so many kids that are still on the rails at 14 and some help with direction could really make a difference - but by 16 they're just too disengaged and their self esteem through the floor. We also need screening for dyslexia for all kids struggling to read at 7 or 8. We need much more MH support for kids in secondary schools and people who are able to screen for the likelihood of ASD and ADHD. We need youth clubs and Sure Start centres.

We don't need fucking conscription.

They think maybe rightly that their core voters think teenagers are lazy good for nothing layabouts. That's what this is about. Playing to their audience.

Exactly-they couldn’t have random teenagers walking through waiting rooms or wards-that’s a total breach of patient confidentiality.

God, if I am ill in hospital with no visitors, the last thing I want is some awkward resentful teenager being forced to sit next to me and make small talk 🤯

It might reduce lengths of stay though. People would be clamouring to go home after a day or two of enforced volunteer chitchat.

Lol! That's true! I was thinking of my kids Cubs group ( who my DS shockingly, even though he's a scummy teenager, volunteers with) who go to care homes at Christmas and Easter to chat to the residents, but I suppose there is a difference between drawing with some 8 year olds and having to chat with a teenager you don't know!

I'm just imagining hours this would go.
Ds shuffles in. Pushes hair out of eyes. Looms awkwardly over bed ridden patient. No one speaks, until eventually ds mutters:"alright?"
"Ohh, are you the helper? Could pass me dms water please?"
Ds looks confused. There is no tap or pint glass.
"What?"
"Some water. From the jug there."
(Ds looking straight at jug)"I can't see it anywhere. " waves arms ineffectually, flaps around under the bed. Eventually finds water. Overfills glass. Soaks patient.
"Nurse!"

Lots of pearl clutching and not for my baby. If you read the small print, there would only be 30000 place available. They would be for opportunities in the support networks, logistics, IT, intelligence, etc. Very much back room jobs. Not the training of gun fodder.
After the pandemic many teenagers have no idea what they want to do, lockdowns and restriction prevented work experience opportunities, so unless you child has stayed in education or has an apprenticeship there has been a huge lack of support for children who have little support or experience of work environments.
The opportunity to experience a series of different jobs through national service could lift many children from a future of benefits or low paid jobs.
The title national service has negative connotations for many. Maybe they should rename it, it seems like they are proposing opportunities across the civil services not just the services.
Payment is easy, they either do it or lose benefits. Once they have completed 12 mnths they can use the skills/experience on their CV.
Obviously it’s not going to be mandatory for all 300k teenagers leaving school at 16-18 every year.
But for those who have no idea what direction they want to go in it could be an ideal opportunity.

No, I don’t need to re think. You should rethink your attitude to people who are ND though. You won’t, so I won’t waste anymore time on you. It clearly hit a nerve as you reported me. 🤣

Initially thought it was preposterous but the more I read about it it's actually a good idea.

Paid military service or voluntary service
Both will build skills
Mixing of different demographics and communities

I can buy into that.

It's being presented as mandatory.

Obviously it’s not going to be mandatory

Except that is what the policy says.

@SirAlfredSpatchcock Apologies, I misunderstood your original question as I'd mentioned the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in my original comment and I thought you were asking about that, which I'm too old to sign up for but would otherwise have loved to do!
Yes, I actually do a lot of community volunteering! I do local gardening with one group, litter picking with another group, I listen to primary school children read once a week. There are plenty of community projects around for those who look for them.

*Obviously it’s not going to be mandatory$

Oh right. Well, obviously we should all listen to you then, rather than the MPs and all news outlets who say it is.