Vox pop - Should community service be made compulsory?

NO

Simon Antrobus, chief executive, Clubs for Young People

This feels like yet another top-down adult imposition built on what is perceived as good for them.

Our experience is that young people already want to make a positive contribution. This is exactly what good youth work offers them. The problem is there is not enough funding for the voluntary engagement of the young people who need it most now. Why create something new when it exists already?

Why should we expect just the 16- to 25-year-olds to behave as positive committed citizens? I am left wondering whether we would set up a similar system for compulsory community service for adults.

YES

Stacey Adams, chief executive, Raleigh

Both young people and communities would benefit from a well-run citizen service where they would learn through experience the value of giving something back.

The opportunity should expose them to what it means to work in teams and get along with people from diverse backgrounds while doing meaningful projects. Challenging young people physically and mentally builds their resilience and self-esteem and so it is essential that the service is designed to be developmental.

Making it compulsory is the only way that social diversity would be achieved as our neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly homogeneous.

NO

Joe Saxton, driver of ideas, consultancy NFP Synergy

As a society, we have to decide whether community service is about volunteering or about compulsion.

At the moment we spend millions on encouraging volunteering and persuading people that this is a social good. If we then make community service a form of punishment or compulsion, we are sending out completely mixed messages.

If we want to encourage community service we need to let young people see it as an exciting and positive alternative to a gap year or a period of unemployment by providing the carrot of extra benefits not the stick of compulsion.

NO

Terry Ryall, chief executive, V

Calls for compulsory national service are wide of the mark. From listening to young people, we know that if they are offered a range of activities that connect with their interests and concerns they will give their time freely.

This is exactly the same as the widely respected Americorps model. We don't need to import that model here - we already have our own traditions for voluntary action with the support of young people and delivered in partnership by V and hundreds of local organisations.

I'd prefer those in positions of influence to show young people we value their contribution rather than calling for a form of conscription in the community.