Voices blog

Tonight the Citizenship Foundation celebrates its 20th year with a reception at the Law Society. For the past six months or so, those of us who have been working to organise the reception have been referring to it as a ‘birthday party’.

I know many people who don’t see the point of celebrating birthdays. It’s just another day…they don’t like the fuss…etc etc. I approach birthdays with a mix of reflective melancholy (what have I achieved, why haven’t I achieved more) and excitement at the thought of having an excuse to bring together all the people who are important to me for a party. It’s hardly surprising that, as one of the organisers of the Citizenship Foundation’s event tonight, my personal approach to birthdays has coloured what I hope tonight’s celebration will be. (more…)

In November we commissioned a substantial survey of young people’s perceptions of politicians, participation and power.

Pollsters surveyed almost 4,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 25.

More will be revealed on Monday, so keep your eyes peeled!

In this video Tony Breslin looks forward to a time when citizenship as a curriculum subject no longer needs a lobby; when learning about the legal system, democracy and the economy has become as firmly established in education as literacy and numeracy. (more…)

In this video Ruth Le Breton, of our Go-Givers programme, argues that children “actually want the skills and the knowledge” to deal with difficult issues. (more…)

In this video Olly Benson, a trustee of the Citizenship Foundation, argues the importance of understanding the rules - both written and unwritten - of how society works. (more…)