It offers what at first seems a constructive critique of the Chancellor's proposals. Ministers, we are told, want to build a framework where volunteering opportunities are "interesting" (yes), "exciting" (absolutely), "more accessible than ever" (please), through which "young people can develop their skills", (good, especially in terms of balancing the benefits), "become more active citizens" (not so good, assuming that young people are not already active) and that creates a "culture of service" (totally wrong - it assumes that young people have to give before being able to achieve adult status). What it proposes is a strange mix of the enlightened and the reactionary, the informed and the naive.
Some of the analysis is fine, but it often doesn't go far enough. The leap made into programme design fails to recognise the extent to which thousands of young people are already actively involved, the range of organisations and projects already doing the business, almost everything we know about good practice and the local infrastructure needed to deliver 150,000 placements per year.
The last thing we need is placements. What inspires young people is not being slotted into ready-made tasks by well-meaning adults, but the chance to respond to issues that matter to them. Where is the recognition of the power of peer education? Of young people self-organising to create change?
Talking about a community service framework creates entirely the wrong balance. We must recognise that young people become engaged when it is relevant and indeed, possible. Young people's lives are codified enough by the demands of education and the jobs market. Creating a layer of service because jobs need doing - "low profit, labour intensive jobs that often fall between the cracks of public provision", insults young people's capabilities.
Harnessing young people's passion and energies must begin with recognising their legitimate needs and nurturing, not directing, their capabilities.
Give them a break.
Dave Phillips is a development officer at The National Youth Agency. Email: davep@nya.org.uk.
