Cameron unveils national service plan for 16-year-olds
Every 16-year-old will be expected to devote their summer to "patriotic" national service, under radical proposals being launched by David Cameron today.
School leavers would be encouraged to join six-week projects such as military training, working with the elderly and even travelling overseas to help in Third World countries.
The Tory leader will be flanked by boxing star Amir Khan when he unveils the proposals in Bolton later today.
Mr Cameron told today's Sun that he felt "very passionate" about the idea of a "national citizen service".
He said: "This will make people feel proud about themselves and about their country."
He added: "You should go from primary school to secondary and then at 16 your citizen service. We cannot afford not to do this."
Young people would not be legally obliged to take part, but Mr Cameron said he hoped that the scheme would be too attractive an offer to pass up.
He insisted that the plans would save the country money, although he admitted that the Tory party had yet to calculate the potential costs.
Participants would be eligible for a cash sum on completion of the programme, with half going to a charity of their choice and the rest to the organisation that ran the project.
The Conservatives want the scheme to take youngsters out of their "comfort zones" - whether they are planning to continue in education or go straight out to work. Just like national service, which ended in 1960, the scheme could help youngsters learn "respect for our country and each other", Mr Cameron said.
Up to 650,000 16-year-olds could take part in the voluntary projects every year.
To complete the course youngsters would need to meet the organisers, pledge allegiance to Britain, and declare what charity they had chosen and why.
"This could really help change our country for the better," Mr Cameron said.
Guardian
