He asked callers if they had ever volunteered before; 90 per cent said no.
An explosion of interest from an untapped source was precisely the aim of the new Department for Education and Skills-backed pilots. The Young Volunteer Challenge targets young people from low-income families in 10 areas of England. It has controversial elements: it pays 45 a week in return for a commitment of at least 30 hours a week. Those who stick with it will receive cash bonuses of 750.
Unorthodox methods
Whether it pleases the purists or not, it is a bold move to bring volunteering to 18- to 21-year-olds who are not traditional volunteers. As Watson points out, young people from more affluent backgrounds often have volunteering as part of their culture. But he says that, for kids from low-income families, volunteering would never enter their heads.
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