Initial findings from the survey involving more than 600 volunteers throughout the UK show that volunteering improves fitness levels and reduces weight. The research also highlights trends in smoking, drinking and sex in relation to volunteering.

Weight
• Nearly half of all volunteers (47%) say volunteering has improved their physical health and fitness.
• 25% of people who volunteer more than five times a year say volunteering has helped them lose weight (20% overall).
• 60% of 18-24 year olds say volunteering has improved their fitness and nearly a third (32%) say volunteering has helped them lose weight.

Alcohol, smoking and sex
• 22% of 18-24 year olds say volunteering helps them cut down on alcohol.
• 20% of people who have volunteered for over two years and 19% of those who volunteer once a month or more, say volunteering helps them drink less alcohol.
• Nearly a third (30%) of 18-24 year old smokers say volunteering helps them smoke less. 21% of smokers who have volunteered for over two years say that volunteering helps them smoke less.
• 9 % of men and 8% of women said that volunteering has improved their sex life! This compares with 17% of volunteers aged 18-24 years old.
• 15% of all volunteers say volunteering had led them to eat less chocolate!

The survey launches the CSV Make a Difference Day 2004 campaign, now the UK's biggest day of 'hands-on' volunteering.

The initial findings precede the full report, which will be available in the autumn. Later findings will show the impact of volunteering on mental health, including depression and stress levels.

CSV's findings come in the wake of the Select Committee on Health Third Report which shows that two-thirds of the population of England are overweight or obese.

Find out more about CSV Make a Difference Day and how you can take part and improve your health - www.csv.org.uk/difference or call freephone 0800 284 533

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. Select Committee on Health - Third Report, 10 May 2004 .

2. CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Staurday 30 October 2004, when nearly 100,000 people are expected to give time rather than money to improve their local community. The campaign is organised by CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and supported by Barclays community investment programme, the Big Lottery Fund and the Home Office Active Communities Directorate.

3. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK's leading volunteering and training organisation and creates opportunities for people to play an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 129,000 people give 3.8 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV.

4. Barclays PLC actively encourages employee involvement through its Employee Volunteering grant giving, Volunteer 2day time giving and £ for £ match-funding schemes, as well as encouraging the wider public to do the same through supporting flagship projects such as CSV Make a Difference Day and Barclays SiteSavers.

5. "We actively encourage our employees to give their time and effort to local charities, urban regeneration, fundraising and all forms of volunteering. We are proud of their efforts and not a little humbled by them." Matt Barrett, Group Chief Executive.

6. Around 20,000 Barclays employees from around the world took part in community activities in 2003. Nearly 7,500 Barclays employees took part in Make a Difference Day activities alone, including staff in Africa and Spain. Volunteering projects ranged from mentoring, clearing beaches, serving meals in hostels for homeless people to gardening, painting and decorating.

7. Barclays takes its social and environmental responsibilities seriously, supporting social and financial inclusion both nationally and at grass roots level to make a real and lasting difference to the community. In 2003 the bank continued to be one of the UK's top corporate contributors, making a global commitment of £32.8m and one in four Barclays employees volunteered for their local communities.

For further information see social responsibility at http://www.barclays.com
Media enquiries contact: Sarah Davis, Sponsorship PR Manager, Barclays PLC on 020 7699 4114.