CSV Make a Difference Day is the UK's largest single day of volunteering and is supported by Barclays Community Investment Programme. Around 115,000 people across the UK are expected to take part, giving time instead of money to improve communities.

As part of the campaign, Swansea FC will be delivering a football training session for the children, many of whom have never had the chance to play sport before. They will be using specialised equipment such as ball bearings, sort balls and bright bibs so that children with a range of disabilities can take part.

"We want to show the children that they are capable of many things in sports," says Linden Jones, Activity Organiser. "Last year we trained blind and visually impaired children who have now formed a team and are going from strength to strength and travel round the country to play in tournaments."

CSV Make a Difference Day is on Saturday 28th October, with activities taking place two weeks either side. Some of the other activities involving disabled people include:


Green fingered fun for disabled people
People with learning difficulties will be growing and cultivating their own produce as part of a project which encourages them to run their own plot of land. The volunteers came up with the idea themselves and are very passionate about taking on the responsibility of looking after the garden all year round. The project aims to break down the social stigma and promote integration in the community.


Gym Buddies
 Gyms across the UK are looking for volunteers to encourage, mentor and befriend a disabled person and support them in achieving their fitness goals. Volunteers can help to break down the barriers of physical access and communication and possibly help motivate the paralympians of the future.


Last year, around 55% of people who took part in CSV Make a Difference Day were new to volunteering, and 63% of those have gone on to volunteer since. (1) This shows how the campaign provides an excellent taster opportunity for new volunteers and provides a stepping stone into more sustained volunteering.


But despite record breaking figures expected this year, the campaign organisers feel there is still much more work to do.

Claire Ghoussoub, CSV Make a Difference Day Manager said: "Research shows that there are around 11 million people waiting to be asked to volunteer. (2) Many are uncertain what to do, or are worried about having to make a big time commitment. CSV Make a Difference Day is a way of trying volunteering without commitment and finding out what suits you best.

"This activity is just one example of the many ways you can make a difference. Feel inspired? Then what are you waiting for? Give us a call or go to our website and register your time today!"


ENDS

Further press information: Olivia Ware / Esther Freeman, CSV Make a Difference Day Press Office on 020 7812 0039 / 35 or email: oware@csv.org.uk Out of office hours: 07870 689 347
Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press


Notes for editors

1. CSV Make a Difference Day six month volunteer evaluation survey (June2006)

2. National Survey of Volunteering 1997 Justin David Smith

3. CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 28 October 2006, and activities take part a week either side. Around 115,000 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.

4. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 11,500 people of all ages.

5. Barclays PLC actively encourages employee involvement and provides direct support through its employee community programmes. These include paid time off in work time for volunteering, grants for group volunteering activities, matched fundraising and matched payroll giving.

6. In 2005, more than 26,000 Barclays employees around the world took advantage of the support available to them for their work in the community - to the benefit of more than 7,500 charities and community groups.

7. More than 10,000 Barclays employees took part in Make A Difference Day activities globally, including projects in Africa and Spain. Volunteering activity included mentoring, beach clearing, gardening and painting.

8. Barclays is taking its community investment responsibilities seriously - investing £39.1 million in 2005. The organisation focuses on the areas where it can use its knowledge and expertise to make the biggest difference to key social issues. In the UK, this includes programmes about money education, debt advice, financial inclusion and getting people into work. Barclays also strives to strengthen the local communities in which they operate, and are investing £30 million over three years in grassroots sport through Barclays Spaces for Sports.

9. For further information see social responsibility at http://www.barclays.com. Media enquiries contact: Jon Logie, Barclays PLC on 0207 116 6040.