It's not that I'm disinterested in what the various parties are proposing; it's more that I dislike the approach. Too often, political parties define themselves by their differences from each other on key issues rather than their commitment to making the world a better place.
This time around there seems to be a lot more at stake for those working with young people, so I've been paying more attention to the promises being made. And it seems the politicians are becoming more creative with their pledges.
Eighteen months ago, I attended a conference where an adviser to the Conservative Party explained its plan for a compulsory National Citizen Service for young people. The scheme, a flagship project aimed at 16-year-olds, was then a six-week form of community service with a residential and team-building activities thrown in at the beginning. It has now become a shorter three-week programme, involving a residential, a local project and some community work over a longer period.
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