The government will end the National Citizenship Service scheme for young people, a decision described by former prime minister Lord Cameron as a “retrogressive and regrettable step”.

The citizenship program offers volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16 to 17 to help them gain skills and improve their self-confidence.

Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said more than a million young people had gone through the program but this was no longer the case.

Lord Cameron, who founded the NCS as prime minister in 2011 as the flagship of his “Great Society” platform, said he was saddened.

“This is an extremely backwards and sad step,” he posted on his old Twitter account, X.

Ms Nandy announced the closure as the Government began consultations on a new youth strategy. The plan will be discontinued in March 2025.

Ms Nandy told MPs: “We disagree on many issues in this House, but I believe we each share a common desire to see this generation thrive.

“They deserve politicians who respect what they have to contribute and that’s what this Government will do and that starts today.

“In line with this new approach, I need to tell the House that we will discontinue the National Citizen Service (NCS) program from the end of the financial year and, when parliamentary time permits, the National Citizen Service Trust.

“NCS has provided opportunities to more than one million young people since its launch in 2011.

“NCS has met the needs of the moment and placed active citizenship at the very heart of the Government’s program for young people.

“It has played a crucial role in supporting young people to develop their self-confidence and close social divides.”

Ms Nandy added: “In 2011, when the National Citizenship Service was founded, Facebook and X had just 700 million users. Now they have over three billion. And TikTok wasn’t even imagined.

“In 2011, an estimated one in eight children aged 10 to 15 had a possible mental health problem. Now that’s one in five. The world has changed and we need a youth strategy that reflects this.”

He said he was “shocked” to find there was no central strategy for young people when he came into government in July.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced by young people, such as the pressures on young girls and the effects of antisocial behavior and violence.

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. “Despite this, this generation deserves a plan that is as ambitious and appropriate for themselves, their families and their communities as previous generations,” he said.

Lord Cameron said: “I am deeply saddened and disappointed that the New Labor Government has decided to close the National Citizens Service.”

He added: “NCS has continually adapted to keep up with the times, especially during the pandemic which has had such a devastating impact on young people. NCS has never been more vital, ensuring our young people are united in their diversity, have the skills to get ahead in life and the compassion to support each other.” It hadn’t happened.

“But rather than supporting it to become properly embedded in the fabric of our country and benefit future generations, Labor is shutting down the NCS altogether.”

Conservative shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew said the widespread use of social media by young people meant schemes like the NCS were “probably” needed.

Mr Andrew said: “We on this side of the House really welcome any focus the Government has on young people.

“But one part we cannot support is the scrapping of the NCS. NCS has grown since 2011, when it first supported 158 participants, attracting more than 750,000 young people to its program over the past 13 years.

“I had the honor of visiting many of them. What impressed me most was seeing different backgrounds coming together. It was a great plan with cross-party support.”

Mr Andrew added: “He says we don’t need citizenship because of social media. I would argue that we probably are.

Instead, the Government will create a Local Youth Transformation pilot program to help revitalize councils’ youth services and expand the Creative Careers Program to give young people new opportunities to pursue careers in the arts.

The Labor MP for Wigan said ministers had launched one of the “largest” national consultations with young people to find out what services and funding they would like to see as part of developing the new strategy.

He said the government would also meet with youth organisations, industry leaders and academics and that plans would include greater devolution of power.

“We will ensure young people are empowered locally, regionally and nationally so funding flows to the things that matter to them,” he told the House of Commons.

The strategy will be published next year.

The Culture Secretary said he would increase funding for departmental youth programmes, as well as spend £85 million on new youth facilities and more than £26 million on equipment and refurbishments of youth clubs.

He added: “I look forward to working constructively with members across political divides to get this right and together we will tackle these challenges, give young people chances and choice, place them at the heart of Government and unlock the potential of a generation.”