ext month a new volunteering project, supported by the Prime Minister, will be officially launched at the University of Bradford.

Nationwide, the National Citizen Service, offers 11,000 places on a two-month programme of activities for 16-year-olds.

Brought together from a variety of backgrounds for a programme that includes a fortnight’s stay away from home, they will engage in tough physical activities aimed at boosting confidence, teamwork and leadership skills.

That will be followed by five weeks in their home town helping to develop a project that will change something they don’t like about where they live.

The 12 NCS pilot programmes start in July, after exams. There are more than 200 places available in Bradford.

On a new Facebook page, David Cameron directly addresses the nation’s youth, saying: “I want National Citizen Service to inspire you to realise what you can achieve. This summer you will be able to spend two months mixing with other young people, learning new skills and putting something back into your community.”

More than 8,000 young people have already expressed interest, and 1,000 have signed up. If the National Citizen Service projects are successful, the Government wants all the country’s 600,000 16-year-olds to go through the two-month scheme. This is integral to the Prime Minister’s notion of the Big Society.

He says: “That’s a society where people don’t always look to the Government for answers, but feel free and powerful enough to come together and work together to make things around them better.

“NCS will go a long way in instilling the ethic of duty in our teenagers. They’re the adults of tomorrow, so it’s right we give them more responsibility today.”

From 2013, some of those who pass through NCS will have the opportunity to take part in International Citizen Service, another new programme offering 18 to 22-year-olds the chance to travel to developing countries to lend a hand in anti-poverty programmes. This summer, for example, 1,250 are expected to take part in an ICS programme.

Adam Glennon, from Eccleshill, who won the regional Spirit Award for setting up leisure and recreational activities for children with disabilities, is an example.

He is a Youth Action team member in Bradford and promotes volunteering in schools, careers events and university fresher’s fairs. He also went to Nepal for ten weeks where he helped in the construction of a new building for a school.

He says: “I want to push myself and see how far I can go, and challenge myself in a different environment.

“I’d never have considered this before joining the Youth Action team, so I think it has definitely had a positive impact on me and the things I want to achieve in life now. I realise I can do a lot more than I thought I could, if I put my mind to it.”

Volunteering is a big subject this year. In January at City Hall, Bradford’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Hill, launched Active Citizens 2011, a year-long celebration of volunteering in the district.

Organised by Bradford Council, NHS Bradford and Airedale and sundry voluntary organisations, and running alongside the European Year of Volunteering, the idea is to highlight the efforts of individuals and organisations who give up time to make contributions to the quality of life.

It is estimated that volunteers contribute more than £17 million to the economy of the Bradford district – probably a fraction of the unpaid work done by the myriad of volunteers whose altruism does indeed make a positive difference.

Dave Forrest, director of Bradford Volunteer Centre, in Sunbridge Road, says: “Everyone can volunteer. Active Citizens 2011 is an exciting way to support and encourage people to have a go at making a real difference in the Bradford district.

“Bradford Volunteer Centre has more than 6,000 volunteering roles in more than 450 community groups and sports clubs. I would encourage anyone to chat to one of our friendly team to find out about a volunteering role to suit your lifestyle.”

* The National Citizen Service programme in Bradford, celebrating the achievements of the district’s young volunteers, will be launched at the University of Bradford’s Student Central on March 10, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.