Fresh off the press is the news that Gordon Brown has mandated 50 hours of compulsory community service for all youth under 19 if Labour is brought back to power in the next elections. According to this article, it is part of an integrated plan to encourage kids to stay in education or training till 18. Youngsters will have till age 19 to complete the 50 hours, so it’s not a ‘per week’ or ‘or per month’ allocation at least. 

The poster above that accompanied the News of the World article is essentially the same one that calls for citizens to fight for the country during the First World War. If the comments to the article are anything to go by, Gordon Brown is going to have a tough time getting people to agree that compulsory community service is a good idea. His intentions may be good but it will be interesting to watch how he executes on it. 

Gordon Brown’s words, for reference, are below (taken from the News of the World article):

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Young can boost community spirit

By Gordon Brown

EVEN in the face of these difficult economic times, the generosity and community spirit of the British people is humbling.

Whether raising record amounts for Comic Relief or rallying round after disaster struck in the North Sea, we have seen communities across the country draw closer than ever to help and care for each other in times of need.

What is inspirational is the number of young people who are serving their communities in endeavours from charity fundraising to green activism. We want to harness and encourage this community spirit.

Already three million young people give their time to community service each year, usually without recognition or reward, whether by helping in an old age home or tutoring younger pupils, campaigning on local issues or fundraising for global causes, organising community activities or helping deliver environmental projects.

But we can achieve a step change in the participation of young people in community service.

It is my ambition to create a Britain in which there is a clear expectation that all young people will undertake some service to their community, and where community service will become a normal part of growing up.

Compulsory

That would mean young people being expected to contribute at least 50 hours of community service by the the age of 19. This will build on the platform provided by citizenship classes in schools.

As we set out our manifesto for the next Parliament, we will consider the best way of achieving our 50-hour goal. By building from compulsory citizenship studies in the 14-16 curriculum, we can create an expectation of national youth community service.

And we can take immediate steps in the next school year to boost national youth community service. This will give thousands more pupils the opportunity to participate in community service and many more school-leavers the opportunity to undertake full-time and part-time placements.

Martin Luther King once said that everyone could be great because everyone can serve. And with our younger generations more involved in their communities, we can build a stronger, more united Britain.

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What do you think?