20 February 2004

London: Volunteer-involved organizations welcomed the government's plan to fund students from poor backgrounds to do community work during their gap year.

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that ministers are planning to duplicate United States' AmeriCorps programme, which has paid for thousands of young Americans to spend up a year doing community work, during the annual meeting of the National Council for Voluntary Organizations in London.

A pilot scheme has been launched recently with 60 students. The programme intends to reach millions of young people across England and Scotland. Under the programme, students will be paid to carry out community work such as caring for the disabled, teaching youngsters to read and restoring facilities in their area.

"The advantages for young people are clear: to develop their personal skills, become more active citizens. The benefits to the country are clear too: to expand volunteering, create a culture of service and to support worthwhile community activities," says Brown.

Gap year is usually self-funded and seen as an opportunity for young people to gain real world experience and mature before going to universities.

Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, executive director of Community Service Volunteers says, "We very much welcome the commitment from government to support young people's involvement in communities. It is critical tht young people have the choice of volunteering at home..and no young person should be excluded from pariticipating.

"We warmly welcome this in principle. Anything aimed at stimulating volunteering by young people is great," says Justin Davis Smith, Director of the Insitute of Volunteering Research.

Source: The Guardian

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