New research out today reveals that 95% of the UK population fears for the future of UK mammals, including red squirrels, dolphins and hedgehogs. (Research published Wednesday 12th July 2006).

The research, conducted by ICM and commissioned by CSV Make a Difference Day and Barclays, asks people which endangered British mammal they would be saddest to lose. Red squirrels come top, although they were closely followed by hedgehogs and dolphins.

The CSV Make a Difference Day research reveals:

• A third of the population (32%) would be saddest to lose the red squirrel

• Another third (29%) would be saddest to lose the bottle-nosed dolphin

• 17% of the population would be saddest to lose the hedgehog

Just under one in ten people were concerned about bats, while one in twenty fear for the dormouse and the same amount fear for wildcats. 

The declining numbers of bottle-nosed dolphins seemed to concern younger people more. It was the most popular choice for people under 45, with older people opting for the red squirrel. However this wasn’t the case for people in Wales and the south west, where the bottle-nosed dolphin was one of the least favourite choices. Only 25% of the people in this region would be saddest to lose the bottle-nosed dolphin, which is surprisingly low considering this is the area where they are most commonly found.

Only 5% of the people surveyed said ‘none of these’ or ‘I don’t know’ proving Britain is still a nation of animal lovers. However the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign is urging people to take action to prevent these animals from being wiped out altogether.

Elizabeth Salter, CSV Make a Difference Day campaign manager said: “The survey reveals that people in the UK have a great fondness for mammals and are very concerned about their declining numbers. We want to highlight that they have it in their powers to change the situation. There is a range of volunteering opportunities available from helping organisations like the Mammals Trust monitor numbers by taking part in their wildlife surveys, raising awareness of the problems mammals face, or putting up bat and hedgehog boxes in their gardens.”

Support for the campaign also comes from Louise Brady, former model and TV presenter:
“I want people to take notice and help save Britain’s endangered animals from extinction,” said Louise. “We have the power to help save and not destroy the wonderful creatures that make the world a better place!”

One family doing just this is the Jarvis family from Cornwall. Mum, dad and the two boys spend most of their weekends on the beach helping wildlife, including rescuing dolphins that get washed ashore. Dan, the youngest member of the family, loves it so much that he has decided to become a marine biologist.

"It’s a great feeling to put something back in the sea" says Dan.  "My dad is one of the West Cornwall Area Coordinators with British Divers Marine Life Rescue so I help organise training courses, do beach demos and school fetes as well as the rescues.  In fact I spend all my spare time volunteering with them and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust."

CSV Make a Difference Day is the biggest single day of volunteering, with around 114,000 people taking part in activities the two weeks either side of Saturday 28th October 2006. To find out more call FREEPHONE  0800 284533 or visit the website – www.csv.org.uk/difference

ENDS

Further press information: Esther Freeman, CSV Make a Difference Day Press Office on 020 7812 0035 or email: efreeman@csv.org.uk  Out of office hours: 07981 591150
Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press

Notes for editors

1. ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1009 male and female adults aged 18+ by telephone between 31st May – 1st June 2006.  Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.  ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

2. CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 28 October 2006, and activities take part a week either side. Over 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7.  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.

8. For further information see social responsibility at http://www.barclays.com. Media enquiries contact: Michael O’Toole, Barclays PLC on 0207 116 6137.