Prime Minister David Cameron has written to the UK Autism Foundation about the 'Big Society.' We reproduce his message:

'You may have heard me talking about the Big Society recently. While reducing the deficit is my duty, building a bigger, stronger society is my mission. We will devolve power to the lowest level so neighbourhoods take control of their destiny; open up our public services, putting trust in professionals and power in the hands of the people they serve; and encourage volunteering and social action so people can contribute more to their community.

One of the key ways in which this Government will help to build a more responsible and cohesive society is through National Citizen Service (NCS). NCS is a two month programme for sixteen year-olds to come together in common purpose. It will tackle the social divisions in our country by mixing up young people from different backgrounds. It will help teenagers become the responsible citizens of tomorrow by inspiring them to give something back and serve their communities. And above all it will help the next generation to discover the depths of their talents and the real scale of their potential.

I am passionate about the potential of NCS to give our teenagers a sense of purpose, optimism and belonging. So I want you to know that NCS is now open for applications across the country. If you know a sixteen year old who might be interested in taking part this summer, please direct them to www.facebook.com/ncs where they can find out more details.'