A new and progressive civil national service programme could provide a massive boost in capacity for the public sector. It would be a voluntary, civilian programme, lasting one or two years. School leavers would be trained and given a series of work placements at the frontline of public service – building new capacity in care for the elderly, education or childcare; in community sports and youth programmes; or in delivering environmental improvements.
Participants would be working hard, full-time – and would be thrown off the programme if they didn’t turn up or put the hours in. They would get a small allowance and long holidays in which to earn money or travel. Those who chose to stay on for a second year would lead volunteer teams, or have a greater choice of volunteering options.The scheme would be protected by an ‘additionality’ guarantee, so that volunteers can only be used for new capacity, not for core service delivery.
Participants will get the benefits of any gap year scheme: gaining new skills and experience, meeting new people, and the opportunity to give something back to their community. In addition, the scheme would expose young people to the realities of public service: the needs of service users, the challenges of delivery and the hard choices in reform and improvement.
That experience could be a vital touchstone for re-engaging young people with politics and in structuring and informing the debate about the future of the welfare state. And it would incarnate our vision of a society rich in voluntarism, solidarity and the balance of rights and responsibilities.
And perhaps we could reflect those values in a stronger contract with young people who participate. Like remitting a significant proportion of their university tuition fees, perhaps?