A new third sector strategy unveiled today by youth minister Parmjit Dhanda is set to make the most of young people’s enthusiasm for volunteer work.

Commenting on his findings from a recent tour, on which he met with groups of young people around the country, Mr Dhanda asserted that England’s youth had "much to give".

"More teenagers take part in informal volunteering than any other age group," he explained.

"That is why one of the objectives of our new third sector strategy is to harness that enthusiasm by making it easier for young people to get involved in volunteering, by forging closer links between schools and the third sector."

Other developments planned by Mr Dhanda involve increased supply of services to local authorities by third sector initiatives and increased involvement for such organisations in significant policymaking "at appropriate local and national levels".

In coordination with Mr Dhanda’s seven-stop tour this month, the Department for Education and Skills conducted a survey to establish young people’s concerns and priorities, using youth-targeted websites to gather opinion.