I see that witnesses from the National Citizen Service Trust are being invited to give evidence. I have been following its progress since it was first conceived, and have met many who have taken part, including in my local area. The more I read its positive evaluation and celebration of the talent, ability and creativity of this cohort of 16+, the more I believe that, with education and preparation, they are earning a right to vote a 16. If it was managed properly I can see a partnership to citizenship that not only develops young people, but gives them the right to vote.

I wanted to draw attention to the excellent work of the Parliamentary Outreach and Education Service which does a great job in engaging young citizens in understanding democracy in practical and engaging way. I particularly like it because of its endurance and innovation. It is a longterm effort, in a neutral zone, growing and popular. Please examine it and build on it as I believe the resources for schools in particular could underpin the education of future generations to a position of informed votes at 16.

I would recommend that the inquiry looks at the work of the UK Youth Parliament, and in particular its Make Your Mark campaign for those aged 11-18 across the UK. This is the biggest youth consultation in Europe (possibly the world) run in partnership with local authorities, Parliament and Government. It is part of the young people doing democracy differently and I think illustrates an engaging and appealing accessible form of active citizenship. Whilst the young members of the youth parliament and elected on personal manifesto, they check back annually, with their peers, what the top issues/campaigns ought to be through this ballot. From a list of 10, five are prioritised for debate in the House of Commons by young representatives. (its worth noting that the first debate of the UK Youth Parliament was hosted in Westminster by the House of Lords in 2008, before transferring to the Commons ever since) This year it is part of Parliament Week on Friday 10th November. Voting to choose the debate topics has just closed (last year nearly a million took part) and results will be announced later in October. I don't know if Lords are allowed to visit the Commons, or sent representatives of this Committee, but as someone privileged to have sat in the chamber with the young people during their debates, I would strongly urge you or a representative (its also broadcast on Parlt TV) to observe the debates first hand, chaired by Speaker Bercow, to see that they are engaged, have a mandate and a representative of their communities in background, diversity, gender and age. They will be future leaders, active citizens and politicians. The first of their alumni was elected as an MP in the June 17 election (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) and I very much hope the Lords will consider their work as encouraging but inspiring and informative to your conclusions. My conclusions/lessons to learn: 1. Supported youthled peer to peer volunteers reach millions 2. Youth people are interested and will engage across all demographics 3. Initiatives supported/rooted locally by local authorities, and in partnership with Parliament, (representing the existing/eldership) in partnership with youth led passion/schools, will endure the ups and downs of Governments, trendy ideas, s/t funding.

Answers to Q4 - EXAMPLES of GOOD PRACTICE. I am particularly interested in young people and citizenship and have worked with age group (12-25) for 35 years, from youth worker to CEO of the British Youth Council. I watched the first witness sessions and I think that although the inquiry questions were good, I believe there was much more that could have been added, particularly if other witness are called. For example The British Youth Council has done excellent project work in partnership with Electoral Commission, Cabinet Office, Local authorities and devolved administrations. [Eg the excellent Discovering Democracy Awards in Schools pilot funded by the Cabinet Office 2015, who will have the evaluation report) which assessed various ways in which schools engaged young people in citizenship/democracy, and made awards which were shared with Ofsted. http://www.byc.org.uk/awards/discovering-democracy-award http://www.leagueofyoungvoters.co.uk/discovering-democracy-awards/ And finally the current Youth Voice programme which includes the UK Youth Parliament. Their annual ballot of youth views through schools is the largest in Europe (nearly a million took part last year). In general there is something of a myth that many young people involved in these initiatives, or the flagship programmes - the UK Youth Parliament and Local Youth Councils, are just reaching the usual suspects, like activists or politics students, potential graduates. However there is evidence (data) showing that in recent years, the young people taking part are from multiple backgrounds, and that the reach across the UK is massive and representative. This is because the networks are rooted in local projects with Local Authority support and schools. As more youth services target those on the margins, and the internet ensures young people are self-empowering, and finally because it is YOUTHLED with hundreds of volunteers - young people from all backgrounds find it accessible and are electing their peers. Data matching postcodes of schools and young people to the DCLG deprivation index show representation across all levels of society. So I hope that the inquiry hears directly from young leaders involved in those charities, partners and staff.

We really must address what is going on within our school system and how so many children are being left out when it comes to education. It seems that there is a very sinister situation unfolding within the school system that does not bode well for the future of this country and we as a nation are being very short sighted. It would appear that not only do you now have to worry about your children you have to wonder what those who are working within the education system are actually doing when it comes to educating them. There are groups forming which are being very devious and selective about children's futures. Take the area I was brought up in, somewhat affluent yet the same families are being dragged back down for the next generation. This feeling of being left behind is not a feeling it is happening and this really must be tackled by the House of Lords as to why patterns are developing in our country that are not for the good of everyone. Adults working within the system are encouraging their own children to hinder other peoples children thereby making them less able to participate and actively ensuring that these children disengage. It really is very sad to watch the way in which these people who are entrusted to work within the system are using it to their advantage whilst creating disadvantaged children and holding families back and ensuring they do not become part of the future of this country. The House of Lords needs to monitor how and why this is happening and what is allowing people to have that much power to be able to sneakily upset other people and their children. The schools need to be aware of it going on and also there needs to be an outside agency that people can revert to rather than have to go back on a local level and complain to those who know only too well what they are doing. I have been shocked and disgraced at the sheer deceitful way people are acting and the levels to which these people are willing to stoop. British society rules need to be reinforce to those working in the system that they are working for the good of the country not the worse. We cannot be a healthy country without this acknowledgement. It is not race restricted there are brackets of people being treated very badly regardless of their race and this must be stopped. It is a shame that your children's education or lack of it hangs in the hands of these people. Citizenship education must teach the basics to the British about how they should be bringing the country forward not backwards. The adults in the system should be educated at why they are doing their job and reminded that they are not in charge totally, as to give them the power to decide on a whim what child succeeds and what child doesn't is against a progressive society and already there is a rather large block which needs shifting. The main barriers to the civic engagement are parents and parents who live in certain areas and work within the school system in those areas should not have children attending the same schools and in the same social network. Their children are being taught who to ostracise and who not to and it really is that obvious. If people are manipulating the system then they should be removed from it entirely. The Duke of Edinburgh awards are an example of how we are successfully bringing children on, to be included and to engage. It seems to me as well that those who work in the system, are ensuring that one child from these families is held back. I have two children in a secondary school at the moment and it seems that I am playing seesaw with them. When one is being educated the other isn't and vice versa, this is an unacceptable situation in the 21st century and the Tories must try and solve this issue quickly. I am living each day worried about my children and how the views and will of adults whom I know not their background are affecting my children's education and future. It actually is a disgusting way for the British people who have been entrusted to work towards bringing education to children that they are able to get away with not educating some but making sure that their own children are. The bottom line is that with this going on within our schools, it makes it unsafe and in turn burns resources and makes trying to solve the damage caused expensive. If the adults whether they be working in the school office or teaching assistants weren't doing this to children we would be a wealthier country. I am actively bringing my children up to be able to progress but this is very difficult in a small town surrounded by people who have ulterior motives. We must stop this otherwise the divide in this country will get much larger than it already is. I trust that the House of Lords will consider what can be done but starting with sending a message out to the schools that anyone who is found to be manipulating the system is to be removed from it. Thank you.

I've never really believed that political education should be taught before A Level because I do agree with many that there are more crucial aspects of the national curriculum that is bein overlooked already. However I do believe the idea of citizenship does start at a young age. There is a lot in the fact that young people are more likely to vote if their parents vote. Supporting intitives which targets parents as role models to their kids could be a step in the right direction. More broadly however, the time taken up by citizenship is important. I work 9-5 everyday and try to do as much out of work as I can. Invovling myself in community events and supporting local business. However I don't have time for a course, or a networking event or a creative community session or whatever you call it! I do have time to download an app or attend an event if I know about it in time. That's the citizenship I identify with- better society through new technologies.

Engagement in citizenship needs to be developed from and early age through the school curriculum. Much sound work and research was undertaken a few years ago to develop a Citizenship curriculum for schools which covered both primary and secondary education. Regrettably this has now been squeezed out of timetables due to academic pressures but in reality it is equally important, and indeed arguably critical if we are to engage future generations involvement in our communities and participation in our democracy. It therefore requires those who set education policy to themselves have a "damascus road" enlightenment if we are to seriously address this issue.

I should like to highlight one group as in particular need of active assistance in the promotion in civic engagement and more broadly engagement with society, and that is people with learning disability. I would also ask consideration be given to those rurally isolated especially those advanced in years, and family carers.

It is important to emphasise a citizenship as a stable construction-property in the process of building a meaningful identity that emerges from daily citizens’ interactions. And it is also important to insist that Community based research, community education and experiential learning have influenced a wide range of successful active citizenship learning initiatives in recent times, enabling individual and collective critical understanding of the realities, issues, perceptions and expectations of communities in order to develop strategies for social transformations.

I have read through some of the replies to the questions posed by the Committee. It made think because I wonder if anyone else will read them. One reason for lack of engagement is the belief that those with power do not listen to 'us'.