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Voluntarism is laudable but Cameron's enthusiasm for National Citizen Service masks uncertainty as to its structure and purpose

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme to be rolled out to 10,000 young people next year is, according to David Cameron, further evidence of the Conservatives' commitment to developing a "big society". Since becoming party leader, Cameron has maintained a belief in the ability of such a programme to instil "a sense of purpose, optimism and belonging" largely founded on his own experiences in the cadet force while at Eton. The Conservatives have supported pilot schemes including "The Challenge\\ ", Which is administered by Great Society Network Co-founder and newly appointed Conservative peer life, Nat Wei. These projects were found "success" in accordance with the latest Conservative policy paper, building confidence and cooperation, which sowed the seeds for a large company.

The idea of bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to encourage social responsibility and cohesion through voluntarism and participation is laudable. But Cameron's enthusiasm masks uncertainty as to its structure and purpose. Initial Conservative proposals sought to develop a compulsory programme that involved the armed forces.

However cautionary responses from youth groups and the military mean the ambition of Cameron's programme has been scaled back and he now proposes a non-compulsory "kind of non-military national service". There is uncertainty as to the length of the programme, with suggestions ranging between three and eight weeks, whilst costs are estimated to be about £50m over two years. However if NCS is successful then some suggest it could cost up to £800m. Contrary to government suggestions, it is highly unlikely that private funding will limit the public liability if costs escalate.

The value of citizen service is also uncertain, with little hard evidence that it influences and changes the behaviour and attitudes of young people towards social responsibility or life-long activism. Research by the University of Strathclyde commissioned by the Conservatives into pilot NCS programmes raised doubts as to their effectiveness, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds where levels of social capital are often low. The extent to which a short programme can redress years of poverty, educational neglect and other forms of social dysfunction is unclear.

The Conservatives' belief in NCS is in part inspired by similar programmes in the United States. But Cameron fails to acknowledge that the drivers for youth citizenship initiatives differ considerably in the US, with young people often encouraged to volunteer to compensate for the partiality of government welfare provision in their communities. In light of extensive public sector cuts, if young people here feel that NCS is simply a means to provide public services on the cheap then its attraction could severely dented.

Like the big society, the aims of National Citizen Service are unclear and conflate volunteering and citizenship â€" the civil and the civic. Although Cameron appears to believe democratic participation will prove an organic by-product of community-based activities, volunteering does not necessarily engage with or promote democratic citizenship. Young people already volunteer in significant numbers but their interest in politics remains lower than other sections of society.

There is also a lack of clarity about how citizen service would mesh with established volunteering activities or groups or how it will link with citizenship education provision in schools. Many schools are already successfully engaged in developing youth citizenship but there is no consideration of potential for NCS to divert much needed resources. Focusing on young people could also have implications for long-term volunteering strategies, restricting funding and access for others in society.

Taking such concerns into account, NCS would appear to be a largely untested and potentially costly scheme with no certainty of regarding potential outcomes. Whether Cameron's coalition partners support its introduction is open to question: Danny Alexander has previously suggested the Conservatives are in "cloud cuckoo land" regarding potential costs. Although surveys suggest many adults support NCS, public resentment would grow quickly if costs were not matched by quantifiable evidence that it works.

Young people do not share this enthusiasm. Many are concerned about how a six- or seven-week programme could impinge on holiday or work plans, and it is doubtful that many would be willing or could afford to take up unpaid opportunities during the summer break. Addressing rising youth unemployment through the provision of structured training schemes would surely be a more appropriate use of public and private funds instead of an unproven vanity project by a PM still about its aims and motives.