The award winning interior designer is helping to transform a rather tired and dated social area at Brighton Youth Centre on Saturday, 29 October into a fabulous new room for the centre's members in just 24 hours.

The room will be used as the charity's informal educational centre, where children and young people can both relax and develop their physical and personal development skills through crafts, music, projects and discussion.

The event is one of thousands taking place across the UK as part of CSV Make a Difference Day. Supported by Barclays Community Investment Programme, the campaign encourages people to give time instead of money to improve their local communities. Around 100,000 people are expected to take part in 5,000 activities on the two weeks either side of Saturday, 29 October 2005.

Oliver has already begun developing the plans for the new room with staff at Brighton Youth Centre. Helping him on the day will be some of the children who attend the centre.

"We've developed some really great ideas and I'm really looking forward to getting involved in the project," said Oliver "I've done CSV Make a Difference Day activities in previous years and have always been surprised how much fun it is. You get to meet great people, feel rewarded and make a real difference to the community."

A CSV Ambassador for many years now, Oliver has attended events, designed mural ideas and presented awards to volunteers.

"We are delighted that Oliver is getting involved with us again this year," said Anna Gilmour, CSV Make a Difference Day campaign co-ordinator. "This project just goes to prove that everyone has something to give to their local communities, no matter what their age or background."

Other celebrities taking part in CSV Make a Difference Day include: Andrea Maflin from GMTV; Cyril Nri from The Bill; Kirsty King from BBC Ground Force; and Sian Lloyd, one of ITV's weather presenters.

CSV Make a Difference Day is a flagship event during the Year of the Volunteer and is an opportunity for people to try volunteering to see if they enjoy it. To find how you can get involved call FREEPHONE 0800 284533 or visit the website - www.csv.org.uk/difference

Anyone who would like to get involved in the event, especially carpenters and electricians, can contact Mark Tickel on 07769 703045 or email marktickel@hsc.uk.net.

ENDS


Further press information contact: Esther Freeman CSV Make a Difference Day Press Office on 020 7812 0035/39. Email: efreeman@csv.org.uk. Out of office hours call 07981 591150.


Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press


Notes for editors


1. CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 29 October 2005, and activities take part a week either side. 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 and the Home Office Active Communities Directorate.

2. 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 164,000 people give 4.1 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV.

3. Year of the Volunteer 2005 is owned by volunteers, led by a partnership between Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the Volunteering England Consortium, and supported by the Home Office. To find out more about events and activities during the Year of the Volunteer 2005, please visit the official website at www.yearofthevolunteer.org

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 Spaces for Sports.

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 Chairman.

6. Over 20,000 Barclays employees from around the world took part in community activities in 2004. Over 11,500 Barclays employees took part in Make a Difference Day activities alone, including staff in Africa and Spain. Volunteering projects ranged from mentoring, clearing beaches 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 2004 the bank continued to be one of the UK's top corporate contributors, making a global commitment of £31.9m and one in three Barclays employees volunteered for their local communities.

8. For further information on Barclays community activity, please see corporate responsibility at http://www.barclays.com. Media enquiries contact: Sarah Davis, Sponsorship PR Manager, Barclays PLC on 020 7116 6095.