Left, right, left, right!

This is another attack on young people who will inherit the horrible mess that has been made of our country. I doubt many will want to join the forces and they won't be welcomed there. Mandatory community service is just not feasible for so many. It would need a lot of supervision and busy people don't have the time to look after possibly unwilling teenagers.
Sunak is hoping this will appeal to older voters but I doubt there will be many who will think this is a good idea.

I’m not averse to the idea. There are too many youngsters hanging around who would benefit from being made to do something useful which might instil respect for authority. And no, I don’t read the Telegraph.

Just read the funding would come from the levelling up fund - talking about billions! Money for what Rishi thinks is a vote catcher aimed at the right minded thinkers. This after the provisions for young people have been decimated. I’m with Whitewavemark2, leave our youngsters alone and invest in really levelling up communities and pulling families out of poverty. It’s the old pub talk “what they need is National Service, that will fix them”. If the country needs to increase our forces then make joining an attractive proposition. This is such an ill thought out last minute idea that I might have suspected Truss was behind it.

Whitewavemark2

Someone just wondered when rationing will be announced😄😄

Don’t worry about rationing the cost of living is sorting that out.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m not averse to the idea. There are too many youngsters hanging around who would benefit from being made to do something useful which might instil respect for authority. And no, I don’t read the Telegraph.

I can understand your thinking on this GSM but this won't affect only those who are hanging around but all younger people. Many have been working hard for A levels, doing part time work and in the case of my two grandchildren helping family out with babysitting. I'm sure there are many like them.
They also respected their teachers and other figures of authority. How would this scheme benefit those young people who are already doing their best to be good citizens?

As with the old National Service, you can’t pick and choose. If someone doesn’t want to do military service there is the alternative of one weekend a month doing community work, which should suit those who are already doing their bit and anyone who already has a job.

Someone thought of a similar sceme many years ago from which thousands of young people have benefited.

However, it is entirely voluntary.

www.dofe.org/do/sections/

If 18 year olds are studying all week and have a paid weekend job how would that work?

Germanshepherdsmum

As with the old National Service, you can’t pick and choose. If someone doesn’t want to do military service there is the alternative of one weekend a month doing community work, which should suit those who are already doing their bit and anyone who already has a job.

How is it being paid for?

It appears to be totally un-costed.

Not that it will happen even if they get in.

I'll shout it 🙂

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

Which is entirely voluntary.

My grandson did that award voluntarily. He enjoyed it.

My post @ 11.42 was for GSM.

If there is such touching concern for the alleged faults in the young, then why not help with funding the excellent schemes which already exist and struggle? Duke of Edinburgh scheme, Scouting, National Citizenship Scheme, boxing, football schemes which run on a shoe string and goodwill of volunteers? This is nonsense, designed to appeal to voters who want other people's children and grandchildren to be forced to do something.....but not their own wonderful family, of course.

Would anyone here feel they would have benefitted from National Service? at eighteen ? Not me
Does anyone here feel that their children would have benefited from this? Not me
Does anyone think that their grandchildren would benefit from this ? I can't comment here because all of mine are still small.
It seems that some people might welcome this for other people's children : if introduced, it would be for all.
Oh, and Nicenanny we know your views on the Labour Party, but this thread is about a Conservative party initiative.

Callistemon21

I'll shout it 🙂

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

Which is entirely voluntary.

Shhhh
My middle granddaughter is working on her silver award and is thoroughly enjoying it.

If this is such a good idea why didn't they bring it in earlier ?

Chocolatelovinggran

Would anyone here feel they would have benefitted from National Service? at eighteen ? Not me
Does anyone here feel that their children would have benefited from this? Not me
Does anyone think that their grandchildren would benefit from this ? I can't comment here because all of mine are still small.
It seems that some people might welcome this for other people's children : if introduced, it would be for all.
Oh, and Nicenanny we know your views on the Labour Party, but this thread is about a Conservative party initiative.

Would anyone here feel they would have benefitted from National Service? at eighteen ? Not me
But you don't know that

Well, DH would say so as would many we know.

It gave him a purpose, training, qualifications, then experience in teaching, travel, meeting people of other nationalities and afterwards the opportunity for very good career choices.

However, perhaps more encouragement rather than compulsory would be a better way forward.

why not help with funding the excellent schemes which already exist and struggle? Duke of Edinburgh scheme, Scouting, National Citizenship Scheme, boxing, football schemes which run on a shoe string and goodwill of volunteers?
I agree with this.

nanaK54

Callistemon21

I'll shout it 🙂

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

Which is entirely voluntary.

Shhhh
My middle granddaughter is working on her silver award and is thoroughly enjoying it.

Well done her!
My DD and other younger family members did years ago.

It gave them a wide experience and also taught them what they didn't like doing!

This will be mandatory and while it may work for some it certainly wouldn't work for all.
Some 18 year olds already know the career path they want to take to become doctors, nurses or train for other professions.

Both of my children were involved with DofE and/or Scouts & Guides. Voluntarily.

What’s needed is to reach those who don’t get involved in these excellent schemes.

Germanshepherdsmum

What’s needed is to reach those who don’t get involved in these excellent schemes.

I agree. So surely it would be better to increase funding to the excellent schemes which already exist? Get them in schools where they would not usually be known of, as part of "levelling up"? Silly headlines and back of a fag packet "policies" such as those which appeared this weekend just look ill researched and desperate.

If this is such a good idea why didn't they bring it in earlier

Good question westendgirl. After all, they’ve had 14 years to think about it!

I don’t think that would work. I’m afraid some kids - the ones who would benefit from this sort of thing - just don’t join things. If their mates say it’s daft they’re like a load of sheep. I can just imagine the sort of kids who hang around street corners and get involved in drugs and crime laughing at the idea. They have to be forced to get involved. I think it could be the making of some, especially those whose parents show no interest and don’t know where they are or what they’re doing. For some it could be a route into the armed forces where they could learn a trade to set them up for life. I am wholly in favour.

I take your point, Callistemon, and, indeed, cannot be certain how such a scheme may have worked out for me. However, at eighteen, I was an undergraduate, acquiring most of those skills ( no travel, sadly).
The International Baccalaureate, offered locally as an alternative to A levels, includes an element of service to the community, so others are offering teenagers such opportunities.
And I think that those working in services suggested might not be enthusiastic about adding mentoring to their many responsibilities!