Institute for citizenship
Encyclopedia
The Institute for Citizenship is a UK national independent charity. Their aim is to promote informed, active citizenship and greater participation in democracy and society through a combination of community projects, research, education and discussion and debate.
The Institute for Citizenship was formed in 1992 by Lord Bernard Weatherill
following the work of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Commission on Citizenship. Since its inception the Institute for Citizenship has campaigned for greater awareness of moral rights and responsibilities, and pioneered a range of citizenship resources in response to the introduction of Citizenship Education as part of the national Curriculum in 2002.
The Institute is currently involved in projects that promote vital 21st Century skills such as opinion forming, debating, speaking and listening skills that help to form an inclusive society of active citizens. These projects include Schools Question Time and the Young Citizens' Action Agenda. On 10 July 2008 they hosted the Young Citizens' Action Event at Central Hall, Westminster which was attended by 1,400 teenagers and was hosted by Huw Edwards
(BBC News).
The current President of the Institute for Citizenship is David Dimbleby
, Chairman of BBC ONE's Question Time
. Dimbleby believes that the Institute's role is ensure we have an inclusive society of active citizens, 'The importance of involving young people – all people – in political decision
making is greater than ever. Globally and locally we face new and complex challenges, it is important that everyone takes part in the debate'. The Institute for Citizenship's Chief Executive is Zandria Pauncefort.
The campaign, which is supported by the BBC
, BT
, Mentorn Media (Question Time Producers), City of London Corporation, Greater London Authority
, Parliamentary Education Service, Steljes Technology and The Evening Standard, aims to provide young citizens with the information and skills they need to face the challenges of the 21st Century.
The Young Citizens' Action Agenda launched with the Young Citizens' Action Event hosted by Huw Edwards
at Central Hall, Westminster on Thursday 10 July 2008 for 1,400 14-19 year olds. In the evening the audience stayed on for a very special edition of Question Time hosted by David Dimbleby
, which was produced by 8 student producers who won the Schools Question Time Challenge (supported by the BBC, the Institute for Citizenship and BT).
The Event also featured guest appearances by an array of high profile opinion formers including Andrew Marr
, Nik Wood, Mark Easton
, Hardeep Singh Kohli
, Ed Miliband
MP, Iain Duncan Smith
MP, Sir Mike Rake, Michael Cassidy CBE and the Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson
. The Evening Standard called the event "groundbreaking" in an article about the day. Huw Edwards was also very impressed by the audience of young citizens who attended and took part in the day, "We have a generation who are enthusiastic about accepting responsibilities with their rights, which has got to be good". In an exclusive article about the event the Institute for Citizenship's President, David Dimbleby
, spoke about the importance of promoting Politics, Economics and Citizenship, "The importance of involving young people in political decision-making is greater than ever. Globally and locally we face new and complex challenges - it is important that everyone takes part in the debate."
After the Young Citizens' Action Event the Institute for Citizenship created two Young Citizens Panels, one for London and one for the whole of the UK. These panels will use the information from the Young Citizens' Say Survey (provided by the audience) and the ideas from the Action Event to create Young Citizens' Action Agendas that will be presented to the Prime Minister and Mayor of London in October 2008.
The Institute for Citizenship was formed in 1992 by Lord Bernard Weatherill
Bernard Weatherill
Bruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL, KStJ was a British Conservative Party politician who became Speaker of the House of Commons.-Tailor:...
following the work of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Commission on Citizenship. Since its inception the Institute for Citizenship has campaigned for greater awareness of moral rights and responsibilities, and pioneered a range of citizenship resources in response to the introduction of Citizenship Education as part of the national Curriculum in 2002.
The Institute is currently involved in projects that promote vital 21st Century skills such as opinion forming, debating, speaking and listening skills that help to form an inclusive society of active citizens. These projects include Schools Question Time and the Young Citizens' Action Agenda. On 10 July 2008 they hosted the Young Citizens' Action Event at Central Hall, Westminster which was attended by 1,400 teenagers and was hosted by Huw Edwards
Huw Edwards (journalist)
Huw Edwards is a BAFTA award-winning Welsh journalist, presenter and newsreader.He is a news presenter for BBC News in the United Kingdom. Edwards presents Britain's most watched news programme, BBC News at Ten, which is also the corporation's flagship news broadcast...
(BBC News).
The current President of the Institute for Citizenship is David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby is a British BBC TV commentator and a presenter of current affairs and political programmes, most notably the BBC's flagship political show Question Time, and more recently, art, architectural history and history series...
, Chairman of BBC ONE's Question Time
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
. Dimbleby believes that the Institute's role is ensure we have an inclusive society of active citizens, 'The importance of involving young people – all people – in political decision
making is greater than ever. Globally and locally we face new and complex challenges, it is important that everyone takes part in the debate'. The Institute for Citizenship's Chief Executive is Zandria Pauncefort.
Young Citizens' Action Agenda
The Young Citizens' Action Agenda is a campaign led by the Institute for Citizenship to give young citizens the voice and skills to produce solutions for the 21st Century.The campaign, which is supported by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, Mentorn Media (Question Time Producers), City of London Corporation, Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
, Parliamentary Education Service, Steljes Technology and The Evening Standard, aims to provide young citizens with the information and skills they need to face the challenges of the 21st Century.
The Young Citizens' Action Agenda launched with the Young Citizens' Action Event hosted by Huw Edwards
Huw Edwards (journalist)
Huw Edwards is a BAFTA award-winning Welsh journalist, presenter and newsreader.He is a news presenter for BBC News in the United Kingdom. Edwards presents Britain's most watched news programme, BBC News at Ten, which is also the corporation's flagship news broadcast...
at Central Hall, Westminster on Thursday 10 July 2008 for 1,400 14-19 year olds. In the evening the audience stayed on for a very special edition of Question Time hosted by David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby is a British BBC TV commentator and a presenter of current affairs and political programmes, most notably the BBC's flagship political show Question Time, and more recently, art, architectural history and history series...
, which was produced by 8 student producers who won the Schools Question Time Challenge (supported by the BBC, the Institute for Citizenship and BT).
The Event also featured guest appearances by an array of high profile opinion formers including Andrew Marr
Andrew Marr
Andrew William Stevenson Marr is a Scottish journalist and political commentator. He edited The Independent for two years until May 1998, and was political editor of BBC News from 2000 until 2005....
, Nik Wood, Mark Easton
Mark Easton
Mark Richard Erskine Easton is the Home Editor for BBC News broadcasting on national television and radio news. He also writes a blog for the BBC, which was a finalist at the in 2009 and winner of the award for statistical excellence in journalism in 2010...
, Hardeep Singh Kohli
Hardeep Singh Kohli
Hardeep Singh Kohli is a British writer and radio and television presenter.-Background:Kohli was born in London and moved to Glasgow in Scotland when he was four. His parents came to the UK from India in the 1960s. The family's roots lie in the Punjab. His mother was a social worker, and his...
, Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
MP, Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
MP, Sir Mike Rake, Michael Cassidy CBE and the Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson
Mark John Thompson is Director-General of the BBC, a post he has held since 2004, and a former chief executive of Channel 4...
. The Evening Standard called the event "groundbreaking" in an article about the day. Huw Edwards was also very impressed by the audience of young citizens who attended and took part in the day, "We have a generation who are enthusiastic about accepting responsibilities with their rights, which has got to be good". In an exclusive article about the event the Institute for Citizenship's President, David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby is a British BBC TV commentator and a presenter of current affairs and political programmes, most notably the BBC's flagship political show Question Time, and more recently, art, architectural history and history series...
, spoke about the importance of promoting Politics, Economics and Citizenship, "The importance of involving young people in political decision-making is greater than ever. Globally and locally we face new and complex challenges - it is important that everyone takes part in the debate."
After the Young Citizens' Action Event the Institute for Citizenship created two Young Citizens Panels, one for London and one for the whole of the UK. These panels will use the information from the Young Citizens' Say Survey (provided by the audience) and the ideas from the Action Event to create Young Citizens' Action Agendas that will be presented to the Prime Minister and Mayor of London in October 2008.