The Prince of Piffle

[Workingman]

Charlie wants 50% of youths not in employment, education or training (NEETS) to do voluntary work in their communities and stop them drifting into crime.

Good luck with that, fella. I look forward to seeing you on recruitment drives in Moss Side, Toxteth, Harehills, Mannigham, St Paul's, Brixton..........

Having said that, I do have to admit that he speaks from the experience of being a NEET most of his life - although on slightly better benefits than the average NEET.

I have a few better ideas. How about providing an education for them above that enabling them to stack shelves, clean offices or make coffee? How about creating jobs with prospects for them to go to? How about not tarring them all as potential criminals of the future? G'wan, g'wan, g'wan.... It could be done if you, and your mates, try.

[TheOstrich]

I'm not going to knock it, WM; after all, isn't it an add-on to what Cameron wants to do as part of his Big Community idea, the National Citizen Service?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... eople.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/get-invol ... en-service

And if our resident old war-horses, (you and Suff), won't countenance my ideas for compulsory National Service .......

[Workingman]

National Service is, or should be, about providing manpower for the defence of the Realm. It must never be used as a tool for social engineering in the belief that it will make us all behave better. There are plenty of examples of that never working - try some states where well trained 'civilians' move on to become well trained militiamen.

There are also plenty of examples where desperate peoples are given hope for the future and move on to better things.

We are not, yet, a third world country, but we do have a large and dangerous fifth column in our ranks, mainly in the areas I mentioned. Do we really want to give them first class military training and thus enable them to operate on home soil?

You want these ex NS roaming Lozells, Handsworth and Alum Rock, Ossie.

[Kaz]

He means well, I'm convinced of that, but someone with his background could never ever grasp the realities of life for many people

[KateLMead]

I think getting youngsters working in the community is a good idea, National Service even better. I always offer road sweepers here when they are about and other labourers coffee tea soup or sandwiches.
The public I am sure would be very supportive.

[pederito1]

I second National Service where trades could be taught.

[Workingman]

The Army has been cut by 20,000 and the reserve upped to 30,000, who the hell is going to train all these National Service men and women? And to what ends?

There is no point in giving them trades if there is no work for them to go to. If the object is to instil some discipline they are likely to resent it. Where will all the training be done, in the community or in barracks? Will the end result be troops capable of going into battle? Probably not. Where will the money come from when the defence budget is already pared to the bone?

It is an idea whose time has passed.

The volunteer scheme, SU2S, is Utopian nonsense - a feelgood idea. I agree that It would be wonderful if more young people did voluntary work, but 50% of them: come on! Even if they could be forced/persuaded to volunteer what are they going to do, where and when and who for? Who would oversee or train them?

[Kaz]

Agreeing with Frank. Besides it is not One Size Fits All, many youngsters are perfectly well behaved and well motivated, and going along the correct path all by themselves, mine included. I don't want either B or H wasting 18 months or 2 years of their lives doing some superannuated Yoof Scheme

What is needed is a decent education system and JOBS!!!!!