Youth sector called on to help with citizen initiative

The scheme has been tested on a smaller scale by charity The Challenge in London and Birmingham, but next month the government is to invite other youth organisations to submit bids to run pilots in England in 2011.

The government is particularly interested in organisations that are able to deliver the programme in rural and suburban areas.

4Children, Futureversity, the Prince's Trust, the Scouts and UK Youth are among the organisations the government is keen to encourage bids from, CYP Now understands.

The Challenge is also keen to take on a greater role in delivering the service.

Craig Morley, chief executive of The Challenge, said: "We'll definitely bid to run the scheme, but we'd also encourage other organisations to do the same. I suspect the government will need multiple providers as different organisations will have different strengths. For example, some providers will be better placed to run the scheme in rural areas."

Proposals must show how providers will engage young people from a range of backgrounds in the programme.

The bids must demonstrate how organisations will deliver on the five phases of the programme. These will involve building relationships between participants and staff; running personal development programmes in residential settings; setting tasks for young people to help in local communities; consulting local people to establish a "social action" task, and providing 30 hours of social action opportunities for young people in their community.

Successful youth organisations will be announced at the end of October.