Schools struggling to interest pupils in citizenship are being offered a new toolkit to make classes more active and to encourage a new generation to volunteer in their communities.

CSV, the UK’s leading volunteering organisation, is offering up to 500 free toolkits available now, ready for the new term. The toolkits will be officially launched on September 12 at Salesian College, Battersea, London.

The toolkits, developed by CSV and the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC), are unique in that they were created by young people to encourage other young people to identify and take action on problems in their communities.  CSV worked with over 180 young people from rural Derbyshire to inner city London to design and develop activities and materials included in the toolkit. 

Aimed predominantly at 14 to 16 year olds, the toolkits enable young people to explore their communities and identify problems, giving them the inspiration and tools to carry out an active citizenship project. They emphasise new techniques in the planning, delivery and evaluation of an active citizenship project to help create more sustainable communities.

The toolkit has been designed for use in years 9-11 but is also suitable for other organisations delivering citizenship education.

Peter Hayes, Director of CSV Education, believes the toolkit can fill a resources gap. Peter says: “The ‘active’ part of citizenship education is often seen as the worst taught area of the subject. The new toolkit will help schools make volunteers out of their pupils, improve their image and help schools to become real hubs of the community.”

Amanda Lane, Learning and Resources Manager at ASC, says: "This is an extremely valuable resource for teachers and youth groups. It has been developed in consultation with young people and provides a wealth of activities and ideas to support delivery of the 'active' element of citizenship.  I would urge anyone within interest in citizenship education to use the resource in their teaching or youth work".

To order a CSV Active Citizenship Toolkit, contact education@csv.org.uk or call 020 7643 1320.

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For further press information: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037/07779 624 385 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 jtanner@csv.org.uk.

Notes for Editors

1. Dissemination events designed to showcase the toolkit in action will take place on the following dates:

London – 26th November 2007
Blackburn – 3rd December 2007
Milton Keynes – 5th December 2007

2. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 227,000 people gave 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,705 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk

3. The Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) is the national centre for developing the skills and knowledge needed to create sustainable communities. ASC works with other organisations and partners to target relevant skills shortages and encourage young people to consider the rewarding careers involved in delivering sustainable communities. www.ascskills.org.uk