Young campaigner launches petition to protect the future of Citizenship education backed by celebrity DJ Reggie Yates and £1.25 million

Amnesty International welcomed the launch of a massive new campaign today, designed to keep Citizenship lessons in the curriculum, led by a passionate young person with the backing of 02 and celebrity DJ Reggie Yates.

The government is considering the fate of Citizenship education in England, as part of its on-going review of the National Curriculum and the new campaign will seek to demonstrate how passionate students are about learning about politics, human rights and society.

Danny Bartlett, will receive financial support and training from 02 for his Hands Up, Who’s Bored? campaign, as he was selected to be part of the company’s Think Big initiative which supports young people in social activism. Danny maintains that despite perceptions of young people as disinterested in society and politics there is a huge appetite for Citizenship lessons amongst his contemporaries.

Danny Bartlett, said:

“We consistently hear our politicians criticise young people for their perceived failure to positively ‘engage’ with public and community life, yet we face the very real possibility of losing from the National Curriculum, the one subject which teaches political literacy and motivates young people to take action on local issues and play a positive role in their communities.    

“Through the Hands Up Who’s Bored? picture petition, I want our nation’s politicians to see that young people in the UK care passionately about their right to receive a proper political education and in doing so demonstrate the need to retain Citizenship as a statutory part of the National Curriculum.”

Radio DJ and TV presenter Reggie Yates, who has teamed up with Danny to help rally young people behind the Hands Up Who’s Bored? campaign, said:

“Throughout my life I’ve worked closely with young people and what’s clear is that they want to have their say and they want their opinions to count.

“Citizenship education is great way to engage young people and give their views and opinions a platform. But more than that, it gives young people an opportunity to understand their rights in our society as well as their responsibilities.

“That’s why I’m backing Danny’s campaign 100%. We need young people to come together, support Danny’s picture petition, and show the decision makers that Citizenship education matters.”

Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen, added:

“We’re delighted that Danny Bartlett has picked up the gauntlet and is campaigning hard to promote the importance of effective Citizenship education for all young people. We will be working closely with him over the coming months to try and meet our shared goal.

"Citizenship is the only subject on the National Curriculum that currently teaches all pupils in England about their rights and responsibilities, the legal system, democracy and human rights in the UK and in other parts of the world. As such, the potential loss of the subject in the Curriculum Review would be a tragedy for school Children's rights in England.

"All the evidence shows that when the subject is taught well, students’ motivation to become involved in their communities improves. What the subject needs is expansion and more investment, not to be put under threat."