Russell Commission report: Russell Commission outlines plans for youth volunteering

The National Framework for Youth Action and Engagement, outlined in the Russell Commission's final report, sets out plans to create up to 12,000 new full-time volunteering opportunities, 80,000 new part-time place- ments and 300,000 "taster" activities for young people in the UK over the next five years.

It is hoped these 392,000 activities combined with existing opportunities and increased interest will allow the million volunteer target to be met.

The framework, which young people have suggested should be called V4UK, will be delivered by a youth-led implementation body that would contract organisations to provide 400 support staff across England.

Also proposed is a UK-wide web site offering a database of youth volunteering opportunities, advice, training and forums.

A full-time volunteering programme offering free accommodation and a weekly allowance of 60 is also recommended.

Placements will be created in areas of deprivation and to address the community's needs.

The commission wants the Millennium Volunteer scheme to be available to more agencies. It hopes to see the framework built up over the next two years and estimates that it will cost 82m to 144m over five years.

Jamie Thomas, head of the commission team, said: "There's a lot of good stuff out there, but that diversity is also its weakness. The young person tries to navigate his or her way through a myriad of information. This is about making it user-friendly without displacing what's there."

Commissioner Ian Russell said he was taken aback that 6,000 young people took part in the consultation. "There's real enthusiasm out there and demand from young people," he said.

www.russellcommission.org.