Raising the Participation Age (RPA) – volunteers aged 16 to 18
In 2015, the Government raised the participation age, obliging young people to stay in education until their 18th birthday. (They should be encouraged to remain until they have completed any qualifications they are undertaking). This does not necessarily mean staying in school. Young people will be able to participate through:
- full time education such as school or college
- work based learning such as an apprenticeship
- part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week
Whatever programme they are undertaking, it needs to be accredited training funded by the Education Funding Agency (publicly funded).
We therefore have a duty in relation to RPA. We need to ensure that all 16- and 17-year-olds have suitable education or training offers and that they are encouraged and supported to participate. It is therefore important that volunteers aged 16 and 17 meet the requirements of Raising the Participation Age.