Kennedy: David Cameron's national school leaver programme is not a new idea

12.00.00am GMT Thu 5th Jan 2006

Charles Kennedy MP Leader of the Liberal Democrats with School Children

Responding to David Cameron's assertion on the Today programme that a national school leaver programme which encourages young people to work in the community is a 'strikingly original and different' idea, Charles Kennedy said "The Liberal Democrat Youth Taskforce is already exploring this concept which I outlined in a speech in October last year. David Cameron wants to portray himself as a liberal but needs to be careful to attribute his 'ideas' to those who are genuinely doing the fresh thinking."

Charles Kennedy launched the concept of a national scheme of voluntary service for 16 year olds in a speech entitled 'Rebuilding Society' at the Institute of Chartered Engineers on October 31st 2005. Extract from the speech follows:

"I want young people to be visible in their communities, understanding how they work, bringing the generations together, reducing misunderstandings and misperceptions - and with that reducing fear.

"Mark Oaten has talked about a new concept of voluntary service; a scheme which allows all 16 year olds the opportunity to spend a month away from home, in different communities, volunteering for one of hundreds of different projects.

"To take a 16 year old, perhaps for the first time, away from his estate or troublesome peer group could create enormous opportunities- because we should remember that not every child has the opportunity of a gap year. While it is right that attention is focussed on exam results, the process should not just stop there.We all have a stake in smoothing the passage of our teenagers into adult society. Our Youth Taskforce will be looking at how this concept could work in practice."