The National Trust is uniquely placed to show young people what it meant in the past to be a citizen in this country - and what it means today.

As the largest non-governmental landowner in Britain we can use buildings and countryside to reveal how poverty was dealt with in the Victorian era, or explain the present day problem of litter along the seashore.

The Trust can help young people develop important life skills by enabling them to weigh things up, juggle decisions, look at different viewpoints, evaluate evidence and draw conclusions.

Many projects can focus on Citizenship themes including:

• sustainable development and the environment;
• social responsibility;
• the value of voluntary work.

Young people also have the opportunity to develop new skills including:

• discussion and debate;
• negotiation;
• decision making;
• critically evaluating the views of others.