THE SOLUTION
Volunteering, with weekly ‘rewards’ could be the answer. Teenagers who have left school but are without work, could act as ‘buddies’ to younger children in schools, helping with homework, even accompanying them home to relieve the school run, as long as police checks were in place for the safety of their charges. Others could harness unused energy, for example, by acting as sports mentors to their younger colleagues who so often need someone to emulate. This would relieve busy parents and teachers, and confer self worth on those trusted to take responsibility for others. Government-donated ‘gig’ tickets, one a week, for example, could reward these volunteering teens. Such assistance would bring schools to local prominence via the press, and foster school-place uptake, so would work to the benefit of children, the community and schools.
One or two days a week, the healthy, vaccinated, 65-75 year olds could easily assist in hospitals, manning a reception desk, a shop inside a hospital, performing clerical duties to ease the load of administrators. They could help sterilise equipment; perhaps tour the wards to chat to patients on a bespoke basis. They could also volunteer to assist with literacy in primary and junior schools. A big box of groceries delivered once a week as a reward would offer the diversion of needing to cook, leading to a better diet and the mental benefits of knowing they are being useful. Press coverage would encourage others to volunteer and make friends in the process of helping out. Not every retired person wants to join clubs, and volunteer work with rewards may be preferred by many.
The fit redundant could volunteer in many areas of life; working one day in a library; giving CAB-derived advice; practical assistance to apprentices and so on. A group of redundant people from different backgrounds could find themselves bonding, and acquire the social and actual skills to enable them to train for future employment. Vegetable packing and grading would enable someone unemployed eventually to work in a supermarket, for example. Rewards could be as for the elderly; food is always welcome if one has no job. Being gifted food at one’s front door also spares the unemployed the humiliation of having to go to food banks
All the solutions suggested above could cost the government very little in return for boosting self-esteem, confidence, job opportunities and teamwork. It is evident that the contribution of the three groups mentioned would be of economic benefit to the country. The problem of underused citizens is huge, and these solutions are not dramatic, but could work very well if scrutinised and ‘tweaked’ by government ministers for future implementation.
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