We launched a new institution at the Conservative Party Conference which aims to provide vital skills that benefit the community on every high street. The Citizens' University will provide skills such as First Aid and CPR, skills in stopping violent behaviour and skills for organising local community projects, through short courses delivered in high street locations. The institution aims to reduce unnecessary deaths and the risk of violence, as well as to strengthen communities' capacity to act.

Developed by the Young Foundation (which helped create the Open University, the University of the Third Age, Summer Universities and other successful educational ventures), in partnership with the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), courses will start next spring with a view to spreading the approach across the country after 2013. The courses will be delivered by a number of civil society organisations.

Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office spoke at the event which was chaired by Young Foundation director Geoff Mulgan .