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Tales of the City wanted for oral history project

Friday 17 May 2013
Current and former residents and workers of London's Square Mile and its surrounding areas are being urged to come forward to share their stories and memories of the City for a community history project.

Volunteering is the antidote to declining mental and physical health in retirement

Thursday 16 May 2013
CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) is proof that retirement need not signal the start of a decline in physical and mental health as claimed in research published today by the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Age Endeavour Fellowship.

CSV to help small charities fill their expertise gap with skilled volunteers

Wednesday 15 May 2013
Skilled volunteers are being offered free of charge to small charities with the aim of helping them measure their impact - thanks to CSV.

Young artists to be celebrated by V&A through CSV poster competition

Wednesday 15 May 2013
Talented artists aged between 16 and 25 are being encouraged by CSV to get creative and design a dazzling poster to celebrate the postential of young people.

Our response to Independent piece on volunteering spirit

Friday 3 May 2013
According to research commissioned by CSV last September, 3.4 million people were inspired to volunteer as a result of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Odd job volunteers wanted in Forth Valley

Friday 3 May 2013
People in Stirling who are ‘good with their hands’ are being urged to volunteer to do odd jobs around the homes of people in need.
The ‘Handy Person Service’ is run by CSV in Forth Valley as part of its Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP).

Volunteer with CSV to get a head start on the job ladder

Tuesday 30 April 2013
CSV is urging young people who are currently out of work or on a gap year from college to consider full time volunteering to make a real difference to their communities as well as their own future careers.

Celebrate Britain's heritage by volunteering this summer

Tuesday 30 April 2013
CSV is once again urging young people to volunteer this summer by joining a Heritage Camp to help preserve or restore a famous cathedral, church or historic building. The CSV Heritage Camps take place during July and August at various locations across the UK and gives young people the chance to play a vital part in protecting the country’s architectural heritage.

'Urban forager' project launches CSV Action Earth 2013

Tuesday 23 April 2013
An edible hedge and mini orchard will be planted to celebrate the launch of the CSV flagship environmental campaign Action Earth at Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park Local Nature Reserve in Edinburgh at 2pm on Monday 29th April 2013.

CSV takes strategic role in improving health and wellbeing

Friday 19 April 2013
CSV is one of 21 organisations chosen by the Department of Health this year to be part of the Health and Care Voluntary Sector Strategic Partner Programme 2013/14.

Green grants up for grabs

Tuesday 16 April 2013
CSV’s Action Earth campaign is giving away grants worth up to £500 to get people in Scotland more involved in their local outdoor spaces. We will be launching the grants scheme with our first project of the year on Monday 29 April at Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park, a Local Nature Reserve in Edinburgh.

CSV research sheds new light on changing relationships in employee volunteering programmes

Thursday 11 April 2013
Innovative research carried out by volunteering charity CSV has shed new light on the relationships between employers, employees and community groups engaged in employee volunteering programmes.

CSV's LifeLines older men's cooking group appears on BBC One 'The One Show'

Friday 5 April 2013
Older men from CSV’s LifeLines project in Brighton will be showing off their recently-learned cooking skills on BBC One’s The One Show today, Friday 5 April at 7pm. The 'cook, share and eat' group brings together older men who haven’t had much experience in the kitchen to learn how to eat healthily and cook themselves nutritious meals at home.

Charities team up to benefit unemployed, elderly and excluded young people

Tuesday 26 March 2013
Elderly people in Hartcliffe, south Bristol, are benefiting from the donation of a van to CSV’s environmental project which provides a landscaping and gardening service so they can carry on enjoying their gardens when maintenance gets beyond them.

Help write a community history of London's Square Mile

Friday 22nd March 2013
We are inviting people who live and work in the City of London Square Mile and surrounding areas to take part in an oral history project. We want to promote understanding of local history by sharing stories and experiences of the local area.

Charities champion greater people power in local health and social care in support of NHS Change Day

Wednesday 13th March 2013
To mark NHS Change Day on 13 March, a partnership of four leading national charities Healthwatch-Communities Involved is calling on people and communities to make their mark by getting involved and adding their voice to how health and social care services are run in their area. On March 13 thousands of NHS staff across the country will mark NHS Change Day by showing how one simple act or new idea can make a positive difference for patients.

CSV celebrates the achievements of volunteers supporting families

Tuesday 26th February 2013
Today, CSV thanked volunteers in Bristol for their role and valuable contribution in supporting troubled families. The celebration event by CSV Parent Mentoring saw a host of volunteers, families and professionals from Bristol City Council speak about their experiences.

Mentors needed in Leeds to support offenders

Monday 25th February 2013
Volunteers living in Leeds are needed to mentor offenders being released from prison to help them with employment, housing and education.  CSV, UK volunteering and learning charity, is recruiting volunteers to offer 1-2-1 mentor support to people who are about to be released from prison or serving a sentence in the community.

New Volunteer Opportunities for Kent

Thursday 14th February 2013
Enthusiastic people living in Rochester, Medway, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone are needed to volunteer to talk and read to older and vulnerable people living in local care homes, hospices and sheltered housing. CSV, UK volunteering and learning charity, is recruiting volunteers to encourage older people to engage in conversation, reading sessions and reminiscence activities.

Charities join forces in push for greater people power in local health and care services

Monday 4th February 2013
Four leading national charities have joined forces today to encourage more people and communities to get involved and have a say on how health and social care services are run in their area.

Charity launches booklet highlighting success of volunteer retirees

Friday 11th January 2013
An inspirational booklet that highlights the achievements of older people volunteering in retirement has been published by UK volunteering charity CSV to encourage more newly and upcoming retirees to think about volunteering.

Lucy de Groot: "Older volunteers offer solutions to society, not problems"

Friday 14th December 2012
Responding to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s final speech in the House of Lords on the army of older people contributing to society, Lucy de Groot says that older volunteers offer a vast wealth of life experience, skills and energy to society.

CSV Volunteering helps young people with learning disabilities make the transition

Monday 12th November 2012
An independent report by the Norah Fry Research Centre University of Bristol has concluded that CSV’s Respect Us programme provides positive outcomes for young people with learning disabilities in making the transition from school to adulthood.

CSV Make a Difference Day hits one million volunteers

Monday 12th November 2012
CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering, saw over 70,000 people take part with their friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to benefit their local area on Saturday 27th October 2012. Since 1996 one million people have given their time to help others through CSV on through this annual event.

Pete Waterman thanks CSV Make a Difference Day volunteers

Thursday 8th November 2012
“It’s such an honour to say thank you to the tens of thousands of people in the UK who took part in this year’s CSV Make a Difference Day at the end of October," says Pete Waterman, a long-standing supporter of CSV's flagship campaign.

Sir Jon Shortridge, Chair of CSV, supports Trustees Week 2012

Friday 2nd November 2012
UK volunteering charity CSV is encouraging the nation to become trustees of local charities. It comes as CSV Chair, Sir Jon Shortridge, joins other leading charities in support of the Charity Commission's Trustee Week (5th - 11th November).

Diane Abbot MP thanks Hackney teens for volunteering efforts

Friday 2nd November 2012
Diane Abbot MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington joined with young people, youth services and the council to celebrate the volunteering achievements of Hackney young people and the benefit to the area. Volunteers from CSV's Young Hackney Volunteers programme and the Concorde’s Youth Board organised a celebration event at Concorde Youth Centre to thank the achievements of the young people so far.

The UK’s volunteer army joins forces with communities to make a difference

Wednesday 24 October 2012
Thousands of volunteers throughout the UK will be taking mass action in their communities to improve their environment, share career skills and support small charities, clubs and groups to help them survive the current recession.

New funding for isolated, older adults in Coventry

Tuesday 16 October 2012
CSV Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) award winning project has received a £288,000 boost from the Big Lottery Fund for three years to support older and isolated adults in Coventry to improve their mental and physical wellbeing by enabling them to devise, set up and take part in activities as volunteers and organisers and lead independent lives.

Councillor Mark Reed pledges to take action in Pilgrims Hatch

Friday 28 September 2012
Councillor for Hutton South, Brentwood Mark Reed will be launching a new CSV project in Pilgrims Hatch on Friday 28th September at Bishop’s Hall, which sees residents pledging to give their time and skills to promote acts of kindness within the community.

Voluntary sector needs more commercial skills to weather the tough economic climate

Tuesday 18 September 2012
New research has revealed that a significant skills gap exists within the voluntary sector and that there is a real need for commercial expertise to help charitable organisations to weather the tough economic climate.

Urging all professionals to transform your community

Monday 17 September 2012
Calling all beauticians to hairdressers, web designers to accountants, and chefs to photographers – whatever your profession, you can share your job skills to support local charities, community clubs and youth groups in a bid to help them survive during the recession, as part of CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 27 October 2012.

New funding for vulnerable adults getting back into the community

Tuesday 11 September 2012
CSV’s pioneering Vocal Project has received a £420,000 boost from the Big Lottery Fund for three years to support 120 adults with a learning disability in Norfolk to volunteer, gain employment and access training.

How to Bake a Difference

Monday 10 September 2012
Budding bakers are being challenged to bake a special Banana and Chocolate Chip Cake in a bid to help the most vulnerable people in society, as part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 27th October.

City of London Small Grants Scheme

Friday 7 September 2012
Small grants are available for community projects and voluntary organisations within the City of London “square mile”. Anyone who would like to set up a new community project or wishes to develop an existing one could be eligible to receive funding from the new scheme which has been set up by the City of London Corporation in partnership with CSV in the City.

Green fingers brighten up local communities

Wednesday 05 September 2012
Amateur gardeners are being challenged to bring a touch of green to their communities, donating their green fingered skills by planting flowers for local schools or turning waste ground into a rose garden as part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering, CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 27th October 2012.

Over three million people inspired to volunteer by the Olympics

Monday 03 September 2012
3.4 million people have been more inspired to volunteer due to the London 2012 Olympics, according to independent ICM research commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign.

Nation asked to share professional skills to boost local charities

Tuesday 28 August 2012
The nation is being asked to volunteer their professional skills to boost charities, local community groups and clubs and help them survive the recession, as part of Make a Difference Day on Saturday 27th October. Local organisations like playgroups needing advice on how to recruit volunteers safely, local clubs wanting advice on refurbishing their buildings, and hospices looking for help with their ICT and websites are only some of the beneficiaries of CSV Make a Difference Day.

Volunteer to gain key skills for employment

Wednesday 15 August 2012
Young people concerned about the difficult jobs market and rising tuition fees can opt for a voluntary ‘Gap Year’ in the UK to boost their CV and employment skills.

iPod Generation makes up 40% of all UK volunteers

Monday 13 August 2012
New research released today reveals that 18-24 year olds are the most likely age group to give up their free time to help in their community with 85% willing to commit time to voluntary projects.

Having a 'wheely' good time at the Olympics Opening Ceremony

Friday 10 August 2012
CSV HR advisor, Anthony Price volunteered on the set of the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday 27th July as one of the 62 cycling doves, in one of the most talked-about parts of Danny Boyle’s critically acclaimed show. "Danny Boyle personally made it clear to us that it was the 7,000 volunteers who made it happen, and if we could keep that volunteering momentum going it would be incredible..."

CSV celebrates Olympics volunteers

Wednesday 8 August 2012
Lucy de Groot, CBE, Chief Executive of CSV says: "If you could bottle the enthusiasm of the Olympic volunteers you could change the world!"

CSV supports Older People's Day and the Big Skill Share

Monday 6 August 2012
"I am delighted to support Older People’s Day UK and the Big Skill Share this year. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the valuable contribution that older people make to society..."

Cyclists set off to raise money for CSV in memory of volunteer

Friday 3 August 2012
Today, Joan Scourfield, her family and friends set off for a gruelling 186-mile charity cycle ride in memory of her son, James Hodgkinson, to raise money for CSV, which James volunteered as a befriender to a young person in care.

Adventure Play for 2500 Bristol Kids

Wednesday 1 August 2012
Today over 2500 children across Bristol, many disadvantaged, are taking part in sports and play activities at College Green, organised by Bristol City Council with help from UK volunteering charity, CSV, and other play providers, as part of ‘Playday’, a national celebration of play campaign.

Local disabled volunteers model fashion show

Tuesday 24 July 2012
Local community group, CSV Active Volunteering by Disabled People, organised a fashion show in Barnet to raise awareness of the valuable contribution that disabled people make in their community, on Saturday 21st July 2012.  Local MP, Theresa Villiers, attended the event and gave a speech about the importance of volunteering to lead independent lives for disabled people.
 

CSV creates TV show with learners and volunteers

Thursday 19 July 2012
CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme Manchester (RSVP) volunteers have worked together with CSV Learning North young volunteers and learners to create “CSV Live” a film in the style of a TV Show. The event was filmed in front of a live audience where volunteers, learners and staff operated cameras, sound equipment and performed as presenters and guests. The TV Show showcased the work of CSV Learning North and celebrated RSVP Manchester’s first year.

Celebrating 50 years of making a difference

Thursday 12 July 2012
Since 1962, CSV has supported three million people to volunteer, learn new skills and make a difference – to their communities and in their own lives.

CSV learner honoured for turning his life around

Monday 2 July 2012
Curtis Blanc, a volunteer and learner with CSV, is an example of how a little determination goes a long way. At just 26, inspirational Curtis has overcome the odds and turned his life around after spending more than two years in prison.

CSV volunteer carries Olympic Torch today

Friday 29 June 2012
Today, CSV volunteer Kya MacKay will carry the Olympic torch in her home town of Derby (Friday 29th June 2012).  The 15 year old has been in care since she was 4 years old. Kya was nominated by CSV for all the hard work on behalf of children in care.

Young campers restore UK’s Cathedrals

Wednesday 13 June 2012
This summer young people will be touring UK’s cathedrals, chapels and churches in a bid to protect and restore UK faith buildings, as part of CSV’s Cathedral Camps volunteering summer programme.

CSV celebrates the support of volunteers for troubled families

Friday 1 June 2012
Today, CSV thanked volunteers in Coventry for their role and valuable contribution in supporting troubled families, as part of Volunteering England's Volunteers Week.

CSV responds to Stephen Peck’s comment on ‘bad volunteers are like a cancer to an organisation’

Friday 18 May 2012
Last week the operations director for the Scout Association, Stephen Peck, likened bad volunteers to a ‘cancer in your organisation’. He sparked a very sensitive debate on managing volunteers effectively.

Green grants launch in Scotland

Wednesday 3 May 2012
The CSV Action Earth campaign in Scotland launches on Tuesday 8th May in Glasgow. Hundreds of grants worth up to £500 are available to voluntary groups and individuals thanks to support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Oonagh Aitken joins CSV

Tuesday 2 May 2012
Oonagh Aitken joins UK volunteering and learning charity, CSV this month to take up the joint posts of Director of Social Action and Volunteering and Director of Policy and Fundraising.

‘The Professionals’ unleash their skills

Monday 1 May 2012
New volunteering initiative will strengthen community groups and boost local services

CSV volunteers support older people to switch to digital

Tuesday 24 May 2012
CSV volunteers are working round the clock to support people aged over 50 and low income families with the digital switchover.

Young people urged to take volunteering gap year

Friday 4 May 2012
Skills and experience can enhance UCAS applications

BBC's Rachel Burden says: volunteer on your gap year

Wednesay 2 May 2012
BBC Radio Five Live presenter is backing CSV's drive to recruit 'Gap Year' volunteers aged 18 to 35.

Response to the launch of the £600m Big Society Capital fund

Wednesday 4 April 2012
CSV Chief Executive Lucy De Groot says that while it's good that the Government is finding new ways to fund social action and encourage enterprise, small-scale community action must continue to be supported.

Response to the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel Report

Wednesday 28 March 2012
Responding to the publication of the final report by the Riots Communities and Victims Panel today, CSV Chief Executive Lucy de Groot said: “The Panel is right to emphasise the importance of equipping young people with the skills and confidence they need to secure and remain in employment."

CSV supports the Big Lunch

Thursday 8 March 2012
The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun.

CSV volunteers win Team London Awards for helping build stronger, greener city

Monday 5 March 2012
Volunteers based in Camden and Dagenham have won two prestigious Team London Awards, showing how CSV projects are helping create a greener and more socially inclusive London.   The awards, hosted by London Mayor Boris Johnson, were presented at a ceremony at City Hall on Thursday evening.

Riots Panel Secretariat learns how CSV helps get young people on path to success

Monday 5 March 2012
The Government’s Riots Panel Secretariat has visited two CSV projects to observe best practice on how to equip young people with the skills for work, giving them a positive stake in their communities.

CSV demonstrates positive impact of digital solutions to combat youth unemployment

Friday 17 February 2012
Read Lucy de Groot's response to an article in Civil Society about how the internet can play a part in getting young people back to work

CSV backs Give More campaign

Tuesday 14 February 2012
Give More is a 12-month campaign to encourage people to share their passion for the causes they care about, and to get us all talking more about giving.

Work is not the only answer to loneliness, says Barbara Locke

Monday 13 February 2012
Barbara Locke, Head of CSV Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme, points out that there are other ways to engage older people to sustain their physical and mental wellbeing than paid employment.

Lucy de Groot responds to the rising number of children in care

Friday 10 February 2012
Lucy de Groot, Chief Executive at UK volunteering charity CSV, responds to an article in the Guardian (9th February 2012) recommending the support of volunteers to assist troubled families address the many problems they face.

Read Lucy de Groot’s response to ACEVO’s report on youth unemployment

Wednesday 18th January 2012
Lucy de Groot, Chief Executive of UK volunteering and learning charity, CSV, says the ACEVO report highlights the corrosive impact of youth unemployment and the depth of the problem in some parts of the country.