source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7995652.stm

Mr Brown first proposed the idea of a National Youth Service last year

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to ensure every young person has done 50 hours of voluntary work by the time they are 19 years old.

Mr Brown said a promise to bring in compulsory community service would be a part of his next election manifesto.

Under the scheme, the work may include helping charities and is likely to become part of the school curriculum.

The scheme would be woven into plans to make everyone stay in education or training until the age of 18 by 2011.

Mr Brown told the News of the World newspaper: "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 in Britain.

'Clear accreditation'

"And, by doing so, the contributions of each of us will build a better society for all of us."

The prime minister added: "That would mean young people being expected to contribute at least 50 hours of community service by the time they have reached the age of 19.

"This will build on the platform provided by citizenship classes as they develop in our schools. But because the greater part of what I envisage as community service takes place outside the school day, it will require the close involvement of local community organisations and charities."

Mr Brown said the work would also be linked to a "clear system of accreditation" so that young people would be able mark their achievements gained through volunteering.

He added: "By building from compulsory citizenship studies in the 14-16 curriculum, we can create an expectation of national youth community service."

Gordon Brown first proposed the idea of a National Youth Service to channel teenagers into voluntary work last year.

It is due to be formally launched in September, and would become compulsory if Labour were re-elected.

i actually do voulantry work, but i choose to do so, im not sure how comfortable i am with the idea of forcing young people to do it.

Descending further and further into the realm of Fascism. Freedom and free will are becoming historical footnotes in our history books.

i know, i think this is a step too far, its VOULANTRY work afterall, it should be your personal choice to do it, and you should decide what you do, which i doubt the government will give them a choice in what work they do.

.... AAW HELL NO!


.... actually by 2011 I'l be 19/20 so its not my problem

The terms compulsory and voluntary are used in referring to the same thing in this article........glad to be in the U.S.

*sigh* ive almost given up hope on UK politics, its a choice between two hopelessly crap partys both of whom get more and more Authoritarian with each passing year.

Don't get too excited.  Obama wants the same thing.

Thsi is straight from his official website.

"Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year."

you have to do 40h to graduate high school here and i dont see a problem with that.

So... Brown and Obama want people to be forced to do work for free.

Good intentioned slavery is still slavery.