Unfortunately, funding of Vinvolved will not continue beyond March 2011, but Surrey Vinvolved are making efforts to secure some continuity beyond then and to enable their legacy to endure.
The Government meanwhile is investing in a new National Citizen Scheme that was launched by the prime Minister in July 2010. The scheme is being piloted – see the Cabinet Office Big Society web page http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/big-society from which the following commentary is drawn:
“National Citizen Service is a flagship initiative supporting the Government’s vision for building the Big Society. NCS will act as a gateway to the Big Society for many young people, by supporting them to develop the skills and attitudes they need to get more engaged with their communities and become active and responsible citizens”.
The programme is intended to promote:
- A more cohesive society by mixing participants of different backgrounds.
- A more responsible society by supporting the transition into adulthood for young people.
- A more engaged society by enabling young people to work together to create social action projects in their local communities.
Ten pilot schemes have been announced for around 10,000 young people from June to September 2011, – none are in Surrey.
All young people participating in NCS pilot programmes will have a common experience, wherever they live, whatever their background and whichever organisation delivers the programme. The pilot schemes include five distinct phases of activity:
- Phase 1: An introductory phase in which expectations will be set and relationships built between participants and staff.
- Phase 2: A set of tasks, completed in a residential setting away from home, which are personally challenging (typically in the form of an outdoor challenge experience), and focused on personal and social development (one week).
- Phase 3: A set of structured tasks involving visiting and helping the local community and developing skills, again the aim is that this would be completed in a residential setting away from home (one week).
- Phase 4: Participants to design a social action task in consultation with the local community (one week).
- Phase 5 onwards:
~ A period of 30 hours of social action on a part-time basis.
~ A fair/event to encourage participants to get involved in ongoing social action or volunteering activities in their area (with a view to creating an NCS alumni scheme).
~ A large celebration and graduation event for participants and their guests.
~ An alumni programme, including training sessions and reunion events, to build on the enthusiasm and relationships generated by NCS.
~ We hope to be able to offer outstanding NCS graduates the opportunity to take part in a programme of social action projects in developing countries.
It is anticipated that the programme will last for around 7-8 weeks. The initial three phases of activity should be consecutive, and made up of three weeks of full time activities (phases 2, 3 and 4) followed by a regular pattern of part time participation over a further 4 week period.
A minimum of ten days and nights should be spent on a residential basis away from participants’ homes to give the participants the opportunity to develop life skills and resilience, such as managing a budget and cooking meals.
The Government intends to learn from the current pilots and then roll the programme out to all young people around the country in 2012, subject to funding.
