The important task of engaging people in their communities is being highlighted by the head of CSV, the UK’s largest volunteering charity. (Wednesday 29th November 2006).
Executive Director of CSV, Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, said: “The threat from terrorism provides new challenges for building stronger communities by enlisting the positive energy and skills of volunteer citizens. It’s important to reach out to people who feel they don’t belong to a broader society.
“Volunteers are the glue that holds communities together. Last year, CSV empowered over half a million individuals to help achieve this in their streets, in schools, in hospitals and in tackling child abuse.
“Working with schools, CSV has equipped over a quarter of a million young people with the skills and attitudes to make a positive difference in their neighbourhoods, estates and towns and cities.
“Moreover, our public services benefit hugely when volunteer citizens are allowed to help. For example, reading levels rise when volunteers mentor pupils, child abuse drops when volunteer citizens support families, sick people get healthier when they undertake community gardening and eat the vegetables they produce.
“Citizen volunteering gives a sense of purpose to individuals and a powerful sense of belonging. It has the power to break down barriers and increase understanding within communities.”
The statement comes as CSV publishes record-breaking figures for citizen involvement in its latest annual review (Wednesday 28th November 2006).
The number of people giving their time to tackle crime, health and learning through CSV, has reached record levels with a 16 per cent increase in volunteers.
With more than 227,000 people volunteering with CSV last year, the charity has also achieved a 6.5% increase in turnover to £45.8 million.
The rise in numbers comes as the charity highlights key projects that improve mental health, support young people at risk and improve the standard of care for older people:
Reducing Crime by ‘including the excluded’: The CSV Mentors and Peers Project in Bedfordshire reduces levels of offending in young people aged between 8 and 16. The project matches a volunteer mentor with a young person on a one-to-one basis. Many of the young people involved are either not in education or are at risk of being excluded from school due to disruptive behaviour. Research carried out by De Monfort University shows that mentoring reduces offending rates, with 77% of matched young people ceasing to offend after being mentored.
Improving health: ‘Concrete to Coriander’ is a women’s organic garden project, in Birmingham. It not only improves local people’s health but also their economic well-being. Local women make use of derelict land and existing gardens in Saltley, Small Heath and Spakhill. The project enables the women to gain new horticultural skills, including cultivating organic vegetables. Many report an improvement in health and stamina as a result of a better diet and working on their allotments. Mrs Chowdhury, the chairperson of Concrete to Coriander says: “My health is much better here and my problems with asthma are not so bad. I have my friends here and that is important.”
Lifelong learning for the most disadvantaged: CSV’s training operations across the UK trained and supported over 12,705 young people and adults. The latest development is CSV Springboard Sunderland’s £2 million flagship centre which trains some of the most disadvantaged people in the labour market. The new specialist training facilities include: motor vehicle workshops, a print design and production studio, a nursery facility for childcare training, a high quality training kitchen with community café and special areas for practical trade skills development. Commenting on the new centre, David Miliband, MP for South Shields said: “Not only can local people benefit from the facilities but they can take the skills they learn out into the community, further enhancing its success.”
Opportunities for all, including those with mental illness: At the heart of CSV is its non rejection policy, the idea that everyone can make a difference and become involved in their community to change it for the better. This is no less the case than for people living with mental illness involved with Capital Volunteering, a partnership project between CSV and the London Development Centre. During the year, the project has grown to involve over 1,600 people across 100 projects working with 250 other organisations. Over four-fifths (85%) of participants independently surveyed on the Capital Volunteering project report positive outcomes from volunteering as part of their recovery, despite the underlying isolation facing many people with mental health problems. One of the volunteers is an asylum seeker from Kosovo now living in Ilford. Ismail Osmani has lived in the UK since fleeing his home country. He said: “My wife has depression and she feels much better when she comes here. I have made good friends, everyone helps each other in the garden and we share the food we grow.”
Further press information or to receive a copy of the report: Jason Tanner, Head of Press on 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598 or jtanner@csv.org.uk or Paul Donohoe, Senior Press Officer on 020 7812 0033 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk
Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press
Notes for editors:
1) 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 227,000 people give 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,705 people of all ages.