OVERVIEW
Young people may not be able to vote before they are 18, but they can make a positive contribution to their communities. Young people should be actively involved in decision-making, both in schools and in the wider community. They should be encouraged to think critically about their role in society and their potential as agents for change.
The Advisory Group on Citizenship's 1998 report states that one of the main aims of Citizenship education is "for people to think of themselves as active citizens, willing, able and equipped to have an influence in public life" (Education for Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools' para 1.5).
For this to occur, Citizenship education needs to be thought provoking, inspiring and actively engage students with the political, social and moral issues of the world around them. It is recognised that such learning cannot be purely abstract and classroom based but also requires young people to learn through active participation and involvement in real experiences in the school and wider community. To this extent, one of the key elements of the National Curriculum Citizenship Programme of Study is aimed at developing students' skills of participation and responsible action.
This website was written by Julie Easy and Don Harrison at the Institute of Citizenship.
Institute for Citizenship - Active Citizenship- a free pdf downloadable resource that will enable schools
and organisations to effectively run Active Citizenship projects with young people.
This pdf includes facilitator guidelines, student worksheets, assessment and evaluation materials.
Everyday Active Citizens - examples of current models of Active Citizenship,
the pros and cons of different approaches and techniques from the classroom to the community.
Resources Review and Organisational Links - useful organisations and website links, with reviews of the
available literature and resources to support the delivery of Active Citizenship in the classroom and in
the community.
Active Citizenship Training Programme - The Institute's range of Active Citizenship training programmes
for schools and INSET for teachers.