Everyone between the ages of 16 and 25 should do at least six months of "intensive" voluntary work, former home secretary David Blunkett has said.

The Labour MP said such a scheme would foster a "sense of belonging" among young people.

Mr Blunkett said it would also demonstrate that "we have to do things for ourselves", as the global economic crisis develops.

The ideas are presented in a report for Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Blunkett said the scheme - involving six to nine months of voluntary work within communities - should be tested in three or four cities before being rolled out across the UK.

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