Memorandum submitted by British Council
THE "EUROPEAN
YOUTH PROGRAMME"; THE
ROLE OF
THE BRITISH
COUNCIL
The British Council was selected by the Department
for Education and Skills (on behalf of the four UK Education Departments)
to be the UK National Agency for the "European YOUTH Programme"
("YOUTH") 2000-07. The British Council is one of a network
of National Agencies in 33 countries including three candidate
EU countries—Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria. The UK budget is
around £4.5 million and the activities involve over 13,000
young people.
The "YOUTH" Programme is intended
to build the active citizenship and employability skills of young
people, age 15-25, through non-formal learning activities. These
include youth exchanges, European Voluntary Service and youth
initiatives in local communities. There are also support measures
for youth workers which include contact-making seminars, training
courses and feasibility visits. These measures are intended to
result in further activities and projects for young people. Within
the UK these projects are delivered through a network of regional
organisations which are engaged throughout the process. This is
regarded as a model of good practice throughout Europe.
A new programme "Youth In Action"
will run from 2007-13 which will have the sole purpose of giving
young people experiences which will broaden their understanding
of citizenship in Europe. Citizenship and diversity are strong
aspirations for a united Europe and are reflected in the aims
and objectives of this new programme. The new age range extends
to 13-year-olds. Methods of delivery and the role of the British
Council (as National Agency) are unlikely to change under the
new Programme.
1. Quality of citizenship education
Under the "YOUTH" Programme citizenship
is one of the modules for which formal and informal recognition
and accreditation is available for young UK participants. This
links the learning outcomes of the "YOUTH" programme
to national standards. Recognising non-formal learning through
the "YOUTH" programme has been strongly promoted by
the European Commission.
2. Relationship between citizenship education
and current debates about identity and Britishness
The "YOUTH" Programme provides opportunities
for youth workers and young people to debate identity and Britishness
in a European context.
A good example is a forthcoming UK seminar in
June 2006 on "Towards Active Citizenship for Young European
Muslims: a guide for leaders" to be organised by the UK Race
and Europe Network (UKREN and the Runnymede Trust). The seminar
will enable sharing of experiences and practice amongst young
Muslims from various European countries who face similar situations
in different contexts. The purpose is to empower young people
to become leaders within their communities, develop a better understanding
of their differences and, also, their commonalities. This will
provide a starting point for future youth exchange activity around
the topic of active citizenship. The seminar will be a first step
towards this further engagement led by the young people themselves.
Local youth organisations in Tower Hamlets will be invited to
join in. There will be space for reflection on issues around belonging,
immigration, identity and change.
According to the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam "Every
person holding the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen
of the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall complement and not
replace national citizenship." From 2006 onwards specific
training modules in European citizenship for youth workers will
be implemented as part of the "YOUTH" and "Youth
in Action" programmes. These will enable them to understand
explain and implement the European citizenship dimension of projects.
It will also provide an opportunity for them to understand and
experience the European dimension to their UK identity which is
often unrecognised.
3. Citizenship education's potential to contribute
to community cohesion
The current "YOUTH" programme feeds
into the wider aims and objectives of UK local youth services
and a range of local NGOs which cover citizenship, participation,
anti-racism and volunteering. Social inclusion is a principal
theme of the programme and disaffected young people taking part
in these programmes can often experience a life-changing sense
of community involvement, thus contributing to improved community
cohesion. The programme aims to have a minimum of 60% of participants
in exchanges being described as having fewer opportunities. Local
links are established which last well beyond the duration of projects
and enable young people and their communities to experience a
wider international dimension of identity and belonging.
As part of our current collaboration with the
Probation Services in London, the Streetbeatz programme for Youth
and Police Reconciliation, from May 2006, four young people will
undertake brief periods of voluntary service in Poland, Sweden,
Germany and the Netherlands to develop active citizenship skills.
This will enable them to bring new links to their communities
in London and help with the difficult task of developing community
cohesion in London.
The programme can also help youth workers in
UK communities experiencing high levels of conflict based on cultural/religious,
political and racial differences. From 12-18 June 2006 Bradford
City Youth Service and the University of Bradford Peace Studies
Institute will receive financial support to bring together youth
workers from the UK, Ireland, France and Cyprus for training to
further develop their skills in managing conflict in multicultural
societies. During a six day programme participants will share
their experiences and skills and will have contact with a variety
of ethnic minority communities which are actively addressing the
issue of conflict management. This training will support Bradford
Youth Service in its efforts to develop a sense of Britishness
with young people in the area and engage them in making a positive
contribution to their communities as active citizens.
4. Implementation of "active" aspects
of curriculum ie community involvement
Under the "YOUTH" Programme and "Youth
in Action" Programmes teachers and youth workers are collaborating
on exchange visits that increase students and young people's understanding
of what it means to be an active citizen of Europe. The international
element can be useful in helping to engage less academic young
people.
March 2006
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