CSV Make a Difference Day is the UK's largest single day of volunteering which 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, the Muslim Youth Helpline will be reaching out to these women and sending them gift boxes over the Eid period.

The gift boxes will include a copy of the Qu'ran, a CD donated by Cat Stevens and information on where to get support after their release.

The group hope their activity will ease loneliness and depression brought on by being isolated and alienated from their families and communities.

"Young Muslim women can be very naïve and are often pushed into situations where they don't know what they are getting themselves into," says Faridha from the Muslim Youth Helpline. "Many women prisoners are alienated by their families who believe they have brought shame to their communities so they might not have any visitors and little support."

Through this activity, the Muslim Youth Helpline will also be trying to achieve long-term befriending relationships with the women prisoners.

CSV Make a Difference Day is on Saturday 28th October, with activities taking place two weeks either side. Some of the activities organised by faith groups include:

Sikhs seeking help at the temple
Volunteers of all shapes and sizes are needed for a mass volunteering event at the Dashmesh Sikh temple in Manchester. Activities include baking and donating cakes, painting and decorating, and building a new garden in the temple grounds. A children's sports event will also be held a few metres from the temple grounds.

Christians curb crime with green spaces
 Dare2live community group are revamping a deprived and run-down area in Doncaster which is prone to crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. They will involve the community in clearing up a communal green space and creating safer playing areas for children.

Who let the dads out?
St Andrews Church in Plymouth has organised a programme for more dads to get to spend quality time with their children. The activity aims to help men improve their parenting skills, interact more with their kids and share experience with other dads.

"Many dads don't know how to bond with their children but seeing others do it can really help," says Janet Greaves-Stocker of St Andrews Church.
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 07870 689 347 email: oware@csv.org.uk 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.