Community involvement is one of the key strands that comprise citizenship education, a subject area formally included in the revised national curriculum for England in November 1999. Good citizenship education involves active participation in the community.

In primary schools (key stages 1 and 2), it is a non-statutory part of a new framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship, which has been implemented since September 2000.

Citizenship will become a statutory new national curriculum subject for all young people in secondary schools (key stages 3 and 4) from August 2002. At key stages 3 and 4, Citizenship is complemented by the framework for PSHE.

What is citizenship?
Community involvement is one of the three key strands that comprise citizenship education. In combination with the other two - social and moral responsibility and political literacy - it gives pupils first hand experience of active citizenship. The aim of this strand of citizenship education is to promote active citizenship through the responsible participation of young people in their schools and communities.

Citizenship gives young people the skills and confidence to play an active part in their community. Citizenship is empowerment.

Good citizenship education involves active participation in the community. It should not be tokenistic, but must be worthwhile community involvement. At key stage 3 and 4 the order states that pupils should "be actively involved in the life of their school, neighbourhood and wider communities…" This community involvement should be a whole school ethos. Participation can be built into the learning process to encourage young people that their active contribution to the community is important and valued, both at school and beyond. It demonstrates a commitment to school improvement and life-long learning.

Citizenship and Youth Action Plus
Youth Action is an established and proven way of empowering young people as partners to tackle crime and community safety issues. This is achieved through their involvement in free-standing groups based in schools, youth organisations or neighbourhoods. Known as Youth Action Groups, young people are working together on community projects to identify issues, develop solutions and take action.

The youth action approach not only empowers young people to identify issues including bullying and personal safety, but enables them to tackle these problems through participation. The young people involved gain in confidence, self-esteem and improve their communication skills. They are able to express opinions about sensitive issues and to contribute willingly to debate.

Youth Action Plus is a model to deliver active citizenship, enabling pupils to take part in school and community-based activities, allowing them to show responsibility in their attitudes to themselves and others, both being attainment targets for citizenship in the order.

Citizenship through youth action promotes a good quality of life in school and excellent relations with the community. Positive links can be forged between staff and young people within the school and between the school and the wider community, including feeder primary schools, the local neighbourhood project, the church, the police and local sheltered housing to name but a few. Through engaging young people in this way, we have a chance to combat social exclusion and inequality by empowerment, enabling young people to gain their rights.

Youth Action is an excellent way of teaching active citizenship, allowing the younger generation to see themselves as partners in the community, as part of the solution, rather than being seen as the problem.