The hunt is on to find young people throughout the UK who want to make big changes within communities throughout England. (Starting week of 7th May 2007).

CSV, the UK’s largest volunteering charity has teamed up with Tesco and the youth volunteering charity v to recruit 20 full-time Community Catalysts, aged between 16 and 25 years, to lead projects at 20 different locations.

CSV’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Sue Farrington, said: “The Community Catalysts will get involved in identifying and creating projects that can benefit local communities from setting up a youth club, decorating a school or helping out in an old peoples’ home. They may even identify a grot-spot that needs to be transformed. The Catalysts will learn new skills in project management, media and marketing and will play a vital part in inspiring other young people to take part in the projects that they set up.”

Some of the CSV Community Catalysts will have an opportunity to live away from home while others may prefer to live at home if they are located close to one of the 20 projects that will be based at locations from Truro to Newcastle.

Each CSV Catalyst will get a unique opportunity to work with the CSV Action Network based at 20 BBC local radio stations. Training and support will be given by CSV while there will be help available with accommodation and living costs.

Anyone interested in becoming a Community Catalyst or other full-time volunteering opportunities with CSV can go on line at www.csv.org.uk or call CSV on 0800 374 991. The deadline for applying is 8th June.

Further press information: Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598  or Paul Donohoe, CSV Press Office on 020 7812 0037 or 07779 624385 www.csv.org.uk/press

Notes for editors

1) Tesco has pledged £500,000 over two years to set up Community Catalysts, a new youth project which aims to empower people between the ages of 16 and 25 to get involved in community projects. Through v’s Match Fund programme, Government funds can be accessed to match that sum giving Community Catalysts a £1 million budget to deliver the project. 40 full-time Community Catalysts will be recruited across England, tasked with engaging 12,000 Tesco Young Volunteers over a two-year period. With support from experienced local CSV teams, these volunteers will deliver over 400 different projects.

2) 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. Last year 227,000 people gave 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,705 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk

3) v is the new youth volunteering charity launched in May 2006 whose mission is to inspire a million more young volunteers in England aged 16-25. The charity was set up to implement the recommendations of the Russell Commission outlining a new national framework for youth action and engagement, following a nationwide consultation which included 6000 young people. For more information about v visit www.wearev.com