National Volunteer Service.

This is a scheme that guarantees some form of employment. In this programme, your local authority will pay £5 an hour to anyone over the age of 16 that desires to take part in the scheme. Ideally, this system would be supplemented by a Universal Basic Income. This National Volunteer Service is a programme where local authorities and non-profit organisations to provide small jobs in the local community. Such as litter picking or volunteering to help in local charity events. Many communities across the country are also divided on class, religion etc. This programme could bring people together in communities were traditionally divided, many Immigrant and Religious minority communities are concentrated into small areas e.g. Eastwood in Rotherham. As a result of this social segregation, people grow suspicious of these communities, this suspicion feeds into Xenophobic and racist sentiments. Bringing people together can form a common understanding between the diverse groups in British society and integrate these isolated communities across the country. This programme will engage people in the local community and keep people invested in society. Social Isolation is an enormous problem currently amongst our ageing population, this programme may assist in combating that issue. A programme like this would be perfect in combating depression and suicide amongst welfare claimants; unfortunately, these two problems are prevalent with welfare claimants today. Crime in Britain is on the rise, this is due to both Police cuts and large socioeconomic problems in Britain today. Giving marginalised people in society a guaranteed income and some investment in their local area will deter people from committing a crime. The scheme would assist in rebuild community spirit across the nation, the lack of a strong community is a pressing problem in Britain today. It gets people out and about rather than doing nothing all day, It could be a learning experience that could teach a lot of people about society. A National Volunteer Service would be ideal for the following groups, students, retired, unemployed and the disabled. To encourage people to take part in the programme, it should not impact the entitlement of welfare. system. This idea is partially a reaction Chuka Umunna’s suggestion of bringing back national service. I think it's a better and less authoritarian alternative as this scheme is not compulsory.