Blunkett calls for national volunteer programme

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A former home secretary has called for a national nine-month volunteer programme to help tackle youth unemployment and social unrest.

David Blunkett said the recent riots displayed how too many young people lead lives "without purpose or responsibility, showing respect for neither their neighbourhoods nor themselves".

The Labour MP's proposed paid nine-month programme would initially target 20,000 youngsters struggling to find work.

As set out in a report this week, volunteers would receive credits in exchange for their work on community, social or environmental projects.

The credits can then be redeemed to go towards university fees, continuing training or a deposit for accommodation.

Figures last week from the Office of National Statistics revealed there are 979,000 16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Blunkett said a new scheme was needed to restore the values of duty and respect among teenagers following the riots.

"Beyond the mindless criminal behaviour, what emerged from the debris was the troubling reality that too many young people lead lives without purpose or responsibility, showing respect for neither their neighbourhoods nor themselves," he said.

"The values that build a strong citizenry, such as caring, respect and responsibility, were shockingly absent from streets in parts of Britain during those days of chaos."

The former home secretary said the programme would need to be a "much bigger in scale" than the National Citizen Service which launched in 12 pilot locations this summer.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Blunkett advocated withholding some benefits from those who refused to engage with the scheme.

The British Red Cross said that expecting disadvantaged and socially-excluded youngsters to suddenly engage with volunteer programmes for the first time at 16 is "unrealistic at best".

British Red Cross head of public policy George McNamara said regular and continuous volunteering "week in, week out" was needed to make a difference.

McNamara said that while schemes such as the National Citizenship programme displayed "real benefits", "as they stand, these well meaning schemes cannot be a panacea".

"Expecting disadvantaged and socially excluded youngsters to suddenly engage in volunteer programmes for the first time at 16 is unrealistic at best," he said.

"Organisations already exist which offer people of all ages the chance to volunteer and contribute to their communities week in, week out.

"It is this kind of regular and continuous volunteering which provides the model the government should be supporting.

"Targeted support to voluntary organisations could help them reach out further to the disaffected minority, benefiting individuals themselves and society as a whole."