Amber Lovell is a Sounds Positive Media Champion and former UK Youth Parliament member for Bournemouth. The Sounds Positive project aims to promote a more positive image of young people in the media in the South West of England.

Bills, Bills Bills…what do we think about this Bill?

On one not so sunny Thursday I found myself in a mild state of disbelief at an alleged Private Member’s Bill, the Bill is said to be one year of compulsory, yet paid, community service for those aged 18-26, of which I have mixed feelings about.

This Bill will pay minimum wage with several options, to be personally chosen, as to how you will spend your year.

However, I already see a flaw in this plan as, I doubt young people will be given the freedom to select their activities because of the compulsory nature of this bill.

The reason why I doubt this is because of this one prominent question I shall stage- :- How many pledges have the government broken? How many times have they lied and mistreated young people?

I’d count, but Michael Gove has ‘reformed’ education so many times that I probably won’t be able to count in an appropriate manner.

After reading further into the bill, I became aware that those who refused to do community service could face time in prison; however, it does not specify how long those will spend in prison.

Personally, I believe it is ridiculous to waste money and send a young person to prison for refusing to do something they didn’t want to do/shouldn’t have to do.

I’d understand them going to prison if they voluntarily committed a crime… but refusing to do community service?

Am I the only one who thinks that the money spent sending a young person to prison (approximately £38,000) could pay for 4 years of tuition in the UK for someone who won’t necessarily go to university?

The money spent sending someone who did not want to take part in national service to prison could be spent on providing better care of the UK’s deprived children and the elderly.

Fortunately volunteering to assist the elderly is an option on this bill, but if we look at this theoretically can we imagine the level of service that will be provided if people have a negative outlook especially if they are forced to select this specific option?

I think it would have a detrimental effect and would not be beneficial to anyone at all.

Obviously, not everyone is going to feel the same about this, some would be more than thrilled to volunteer if they have not had any options to give back, or give anything at all, and I think it may give a sense of pride and accomplishment to someone who hasn’t had the opportunity or trust to do so.

I also think it is a great idea for those young people who are not in education training and employment (NEETs) and those who are heavily reliant on the Government – It will provide them with a year of education, there will be options for personal education and development which sound really beneficial, and I know they are because these things are taught at school from an early age.

This bill will also provide a stable income for one year and the chance to give back to the community which is always a wonderful thing, but I cannot help but imagine what happens after that one year… Do they just go back to sitting around all day or will suitable provisions be made?

“What if the young people taking part have a job/work placement/ education?” is something I was asked by a contemporary when I revealed this bill from my bag… Well… I thought the very same thing.

What if a young person was given a mesmerising opportunity (and if we look at this realistically, there aren’t many of those around these days) would they still have to carry out the year of national service?

Would the government force the company, like they’re forcing the young people, to comply and keep the role open or will that young person miss out on their one special shot at success?

I’d be super annoyed if I was forced to miss out on my one chance of becoming a pop star to do compulsory community service, because I know I’d never get another opportunity similar due to my poor singing skills and the fact that I don’t fit, quite literally, into the generic stereotype of a pop star.

Although it has been said that “Selflessness is the key to inner peace”, could inner peace really be found when being forced to do something and face a criminal conviction for not doing so?

No.

Today, we live in a selfish society. Everyone can vehemently deny this, but we’re all selfish consumers and very rarely look at the bigger picture.

The government have dictated how young people should be raised, through the press, through the education system and I now believe they can see the errors of their ways, from their teachings and preaching’s, they must realise that a limited number of young people will want to give up their precious time, which is why they are making it compulsory.

I’ve done a fair bit of volunteering, in my few years, and I plan on doing more as I absolutely love to VOLUNTEER, but I know I would not love it and not commit to it with as much passion if I was FORCED to.

To Bill or not to Bill… That is the question.