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PM unveils community work scheme PM unveils community work scheme
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched a community work scheme for 16 to 19-year-olds in England.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched a community work scheme for 16 to 19-year-olds in England.
The £146m project is aimed at 20,000 school leavers seeking work.The £146m project is aimed at 20,000 school leavers seeking work.
It will include helping the elderly and the environment on courses lasting between 14 and 22 weeks which will lead to professional qualifications.It will include helping the elderly and the environment on courses lasting between 14 and 22 weeks which will lead to professional qualifications.
The Tories have proposed a voluntary "citizen service" programme for 16-year-olds, which they described as 21st Century National Service.The Tories have proposed a voluntary "citizen service" programme for 16-year-olds, which they described as 21st Century National Service.
Campaigners have been calling for extra help and training for young people who it is feared will suffer most from unemployment in the recession.Campaigners have been calling for extra help and training for young people who it is feared will suffer most from unemployment in the recession.
I want everyone to have this opportunity and I want everyone to get involved Gordon BrownI want everyone to have this opportunity and I want everyone to get involved Gordon Brown
Unemployment among those aged 18 to 24 is going up twice as fast as the average rate and teenagers leaving school at 16 for work are having an especially tough time - almost one in three cannot get jobs.Unemployment among those aged 18 to 24 is going up twice as fast as the average rate and teenagers leaving school at 16 for work are having an especially tough time - almost one in three cannot get jobs.
'Tragic''Tragic'
As a result the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education employment or training, known as Neets by policy makers, has gone up by just over a half percentage point to 10.5%.As a result the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education employment or training, known as Neets by policy makers, has gone up by just over a half percentage point to 10.5%.
The Tories have said it is "tragic" the government has done "so little to help" young people during the "boom years".The Tories have said it is "tragic" the government has done "so little to help" young people during the "boom years".
Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled extra help for young unemployed people in this week's Budget, offering a guarantee of a job or a training place for those who have been out of work for 12 months or more.Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled extra help for young unemployed people in this week's Budget, offering a guarantee of a job or a training place for those who have been out of work for 12 months or more.
The new project, run by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, will start in September and could eventually become a compulsory part of the school curriculum.The new project, run by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, will start in September and could eventually become a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
HAVE YOUR SAY Anything designed to promote a work routine is a good thingCraig, Manchester Send us your comments
It is aimed at youngsters on Entry to Employment schemes in England which help them find work.It is aimed at youngsters on Entry to Employment schemes in England which help them find work.
Launching the scheme in a podcast on the Downing Street website, Mr Brown said: "Millions of young people are already giving their time and energy to make a difference in our communities, whether by helping in an old people's home or tutoring younger pupils, campaigning on local issues or fundraising for global causes, organising community activities or helping deliver environmental projects.Launching the scheme in a podcast on the Downing Street website, Mr Brown said: "Millions of young people are already giving their time and energy to make a difference in our communities, whether by helping in an old people's home or tutoring younger pupils, campaigning on local issues or fundraising for global causes, organising community activities or helping deliver environmental projects.
"I want everyone to have this opportunity and I want everyone to get involved.""I want everyone to have this opportunity and I want everyone to get involved."
The prime minister would like every young person to do at least 50 hours of community work by the time they are aged 19, and the scheme is part of his drive to boost "good citizenship" across the UK.The prime minister would like every young person to do at least 50 hours of community work by the time they are aged 19, and the scheme is part of his drive to boost "good citizenship" across the UK.
Mr Brown mooted the community work scheme for young people in the News of the World earlier this month.Mr Brown mooted the community work scheme for young people in the News of the World earlier this month.
He told the newspaper: "It is my ambition to create a Britain in which there is a clear expectation that all young people will undertake some service to their community, and where community service will become a normal part of growing up in Britain.He told the newspaper: "It is my ambition to create a Britain in which there is a clear expectation that all young people will undertake some service to their community, and where community service will become a normal part of growing up in Britain.
"And, by doing so, the contributions of each of us will build a better society for all of us.""And, by doing so, the contributions of each of us will build a better society for all of us."