Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones has welcomed the launch of the second year of National Citizen Service.

National Citizen Service is a scheme for 16-year-olds first proposed by David Cameron in 2005 and now introduced by the Coalition government. It brings together 16-year-olds from different backgrounds in the summer after they have taken their GCSEs to work together and give something back to their communities. After three weeks of team-building and outdoors activities, participants spend 30 hours helping improve their communities.

There will be 30,000 places available on National Citizen Service this summer, including 405 in Warwickshire. By 2014 there will be 90,000 places available and it is our ambition that there will ultimately be places available for all 16-year-olds.

Commenting, Marcus said: “National Citizen Service is a fantastic idea and a great thing for young people to do. Last year I took part in a fantastic ‘Dragons Den’ event at the Woodlands School in Coventry which showed me firsthand the way this initiative is benefitting youngsters in the area.

“It is all about giving young people the chance to come together from different backgrounds, have new experiences, learn new skills, understand how to work as a team, and give something back to the community. It’s also great news for the rest of us, as all young people taking part spend 30 hours making their community a better place.

“I am very pleased that there are 405 places on National Citizen Service for young people in Warwickshire and I hope that eventually all children in Nuneaton will be able to benefit.”