## Learning Outcomes

- Explain what jury service is, who can be selected, and what to do if you receive a summons
- Identify practical ways people volunteer and support their local community in the UK
- Understand how to take part in civic life through voting, local councils, and contacting representatives
- Recall key responsibilities and shared values linked to community involvement in the Life in the UK Test

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how people participate in community life in the UK, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that people on the electoral register can be randomly selected for jury service
- Recall the age range for jury service (18–70, and 18–75 in England and Wales)
- Understand the difference between being excused from jury service and having it deferred
- Identify common ways to volunteer (for example, helping in schools and supporting charities)
- Recognise how volunteering helps individuals integrate and supports local communities
- Know that civic participation includes voting and getting involved in local activities

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. Why does being on the electoral register matter for both voting and jury service?
2. What is the jury service age range in England and Wales?
3. What is the difference between deferral and excusal for jury service?
4. Name three different types of organisations in the UK that use volunteers.
5. Name two ways you can take part in civic life besides voting in a general election.

## Introduction

Becoming a settled resident or citizen in the UK involves rights (like voting) and responsibilities (like obeying the law). The Life in the UK Test also expects you to understand how people take part in their community through jury service, volunteering, and everyday civic activity.

Community involvement can be formal (for example, serving on a jury or becoming a school governor) or informal (helping neighbours and supporting local events). These actions strengthen trust, fairness, and shared responsibility.

> **Key Term: community participation**
> Taking part in local and national life through actions such as voting, volunteering, jury service, and supporting local organisations.

### Jury service: what it is and why it matters

Jury service is one way the public takes part in the justice system. In certain criminal trials, a jury listens to the evidence and helps decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Jury service supports the principle that justice should involve ordinary members of the public, not only officials.

In the UK, jurors are selected at random from people on the electoral register. This is why registering to vote matters even if you do not always vote: it connects you to an important civic duty.

> **Key Term: jury service**
> The duty of members of the public to attend court when summoned and serve as jurors in a trial.
>
> **Key Term: electoral register**
> The official list of people who are registered to vote; it is used for elections and for selecting people for jury service.

If you are summoned, you must reply and follow the instructions. Ignoring a summons can lead to penalties. Jury service is not optional just because you are busy, but the court may allow changes in some situations.

Who can be asked to do jury service (Life in the UK Test focus)
The basic rules are:

- People are selected at random from the electoral register.
- Anyone on the electoral register aged **18 to 70** can be asked to serve.
- In **England and Wales**, the upper age limit is **18 to 75**.

These age ranges are key facts to remember for the test. In practice, courts also apply other legal qualification rules, but the test commonly focuses on the link to the electoral register and the age limits.

> **Test Tip:** Many questions are phrased as “Who can be selected for a jury?” The safest answer usually includes both parts: being on the electoral register and being within the age range (18–70, or 18–75 in England and Wales).

### Jury summons, deferral, and excusal

If you receive a jury summons, you normally must attend. However, there is a difference between changing the date and not having to serve at all.

> **Key Term: deferral**
> Moving jury service to a later date, so you still serve but at a different time.
>
> **Key Term: excusal**
> Being released from jury service completely, usually for a serious reason.

Deferral (serve later)
A deferral is more common than an excusal. The court may allow you to do jury service later if there is a strong reason you cannot attend on the dates given. Examples include:

- a medical appointment or operation that cannot be changed
- pre-booked travel that you cannot cancel
- exams or essential education commitments
- a temporary work situation where your absence would cause serious problems (you may need evidence)

Deferral is usually a practical solution: you still complete the civic duty, but at a more suitable time.

Excusal (do not serve)
Excusal means you do not need to do jury service at all. This is normally only granted for exceptional reasons, such as:

- serious illness or disability that makes service impossible
- being a full-time carer with no alternative care available
- serious hardship that cannot be solved by deferral

What you should do if summoned

- Respond promptly and honestly.
- Explain your circumstances clearly.
- Provide evidence if requested (for example, medical letters or travel documents).

> **Test Tip:** Do not confuse the two outcomes. If a question asks “What does deferral mean?” the correct idea is “you do it later,” not “you are exempt.”

### Volunteering: what it means and common examples

Volunteering is a major part of community life in the UK. Many charities and local organisations rely on volunteers to deliver services, raise money, and support vulnerable people. Volunteering is also a simple way to meet people and build connections, especially if you are new to an area.

> **Key Term: volunteering**
> Giving your time without pay to support other people or help a charity, community group, or local organisation.

Why volunteering matters (for the community and for you)
For the community, volunteering helps services run better and supports people who need help. For individuals, volunteering can:

- improve English through regular conversation and teamwork
- build confidence and social networks
- develop skills that may help with employment (for example, organisation, customer service, teamwork)
- provide a sense of belonging and responsibility

The Life in the UK Test sometimes asks about benefits of volunteering, so remember at least one clear personal benefit and one clear community benefit.

Types of organisations that use volunteers (examples you should recognise)
The UK has thousands of charities and voluntary organisations. Some are national, and others are local. Examples include:

- emergency and humanitarian charities (for example, the **British Red Cross**)
- charities supporting older people (for example, **Age UK**)
- children’s charities (for example, the **NSPCC**, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
- homelessness charities (for example, **Crisis** and **Shelter**)
- medical research charities (for example, **Cancer Research UK**)
- environmental charities (for example, the **National Trust** and **Friends of the Earth**)
- animal charities (for example, the **PDSA**, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals)

What volunteers actually do (practical examples)
Volunteering roles vary widely, such as:

- helping in a charity shop (sorting donations, serving customers)
- fundraising (events, sponsored activities, collections)
- helping at a community centre (classes, advice sessions, meals)
- supporting sports clubs or youth activities (coaching, organising)
- helping in local environmental projects (clean-ups, recycling campaigns)

A common way to find volunteering opportunities is through local advertising by charities and community organisations, or through online volunteering directories.

### Helping in schools and supporting young people

Schools often welcome support from parents and local residents. This is a very common Life in the UK Test topic because it shows practical community involvement.

Helping at your child’s school
If you have children, you may be able to:

- help in the classroom during activities
- listen to children read
- support trips or events
- join fundraising activities for equipment or out-of-school opportunities

Schools may also have parent groups that support activities and raise funds.

> **Key Term: school governor**
> A volunteer member of a school’s governing body who helps with the school’s long-term direction and holds leaders to account.

School governors do not run the school day to day, but they can be involved in:

- agreeing the school’s priorities and long-term plans
- oversight of budgets and how money is spent
- supporting and challenging school leadership to improve standards

This is a formal civic role and is a good example of volunteering that uses decision-making and responsibility.

Opportunities for young people: National Citizen Service
The UK also has programmes designed to encourage community involvement among young people. One major example is the **National Citizen Service (NCS)**, which gives **16- and 17-year-olds** the chance to take part in outdoor activities, develop skills, and complete a community project.

Remember the age group (16–17) as this is the kind of detail that can appear in multiple-choice questions.

### Civic life: how to take part beyond volunteering

Civic life includes actions that help shape decisions in your area and your country. Some of these are formal (voting, serving on a jury), and some are everyday actions (being a good neighbour, joining local groups).

Being a good neighbour (everyday civic responsibility)
Small actions can prevent conflicts and help you feel part of the community:

- introduce yourself to neighbours when you move in
- respect privacy and keep noise to a reasonable level
- keep shared areas tidy (for example, stairs or communal gardens)
- put bins out only when they are due to be collected

These behaviours reflect shared values in the UK such as fairness, respect, and responsibility.

Voting and registering to vote
Voting is a central part of democracy and a key responsibility of active citizenship. To vote, you must be on the electoral register. The register is updated every year, and households are asked to confirm who lives there and who is eligible.

Being registered matters for two reasons you should link together in your memory:

- it allows you to vote in elections (if you are eligible)
- it means you can be selected for jury service

Local councils and community decisions
Many decisions that affect daily life are made by local councils (also called local authorities). Councillors are elected to represent residents. Civic involvement at local level can include:

- contacting your councillor about local problems (for example, rubbish collection, local planning, parks)
- attending local meetings or consultations
- joining residents’ associations or neighbourhood groups

These routes can be more effective for local issues than contacting national government.

Contacting your MP
An MP represents a constituency in the House of Commons. People often contact their MP about issues such as:

- problems with public services that need national attention
- proposed laws and national policies
- concerns affecting the local area that require government action

A practical point: MPs normally expect you to be a constituent, so you should give your name and address when you write to them.

Petitions (a formal way to show support for an issue)
Petitions are a recognised way to show public support and ask for action. For UK Parliament petitions, two thresholds are widely known:

- at **10,000 signatures**, the government issues a response
- at **100,000 signatures**, the petition is considered for debate in Parliament

A petition can raise awareness and pressure decision-makers, but it does not automatically change the law. Also, the correct place to petition depends on who is responsible: a local council handles local services, and devolved governments handle many issues in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

### Other ways people contribute: donations and environmental action

Some contributions are not “volunteering” in the usual sense, but they are still community-minded actions often mentioned in Life in the UK learning checklists.

Blood donation and organ donation

- Donating blood supports the NHS and helps patients who need transfusions.
- Organ donation can save lives after death (and in some cases through living donation).

These are clear examples of helping others in a direct way.

Looking after the environment
Environmental responsibility is part of being a good citizen. Common expectations include:

- recycling household waste where possible
- reducing waste sent to landfill
- using public transport, walking, or cycling when you can
- buying local products to reduce transport distances and support local businesses

While the test may not ask detailed environmental science, it can ask what people can do in daily life to protect the environment.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Community participation includes jury service, volunteering, voting, and local involvement
- People on the electoral register can be randomly selected for jury service
- Jury service age limits are 18–70, and 18–75 in England and Wales
- Deferral means doing jury service at a later date; excusal means not serving
- Volunteering means giving time unpaid to support charities or community organisations
- Major UK charities that use volunteers include the British Red Cross, Age UK, NSPCC, Shelter, Crisis, Cancer Research UK, National Trust, Friends of the Earth, and PDSA
- Helping in schools and becoming a school governor are common forms of community involvement
- National Citizen Service offers community involvement for 16- and 17-year-olds
- Civic life includes voting, contacting councillors or MPs, and supporting petitions
- Environmental actions (like recycling and using public transport) are part of responsible community behaviour

## Key Terms and Concepts

- community participation
- jury service
- electoral register
- deferral
- excusal
- volunteering
- school governor


Participation and community involvement - Jury service, volunteering, and civic life