Press

For all media enquiries, please contact the CSV Press Office on 020 7812 0037/8.

Out of hours, please call Francesca Toma on 07966 168 686

Email enquiries: ftoma@csv.org.uk / ofry@csv.org.uk.

Latest Press Releases

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Child protection volunteers shown as effective in reducing serious risk
New independent research presented to the Children’s Minister, Tim Loughton MP, underlines the benefits of training local volunteers to support families with children at risk of serious harm and subject to child protection plans. The results not only show positive benefits for the wellbeing of families and their children but also for social work professionals and stretched local authority finances (Monday 28th November 2011).

Tim Loughton to deliver keynote speech at Child Protection Event
The role of enlisting community volunteers as part of the armoury to protect children at risk of neglect and abuse will be the focus of a special networking event for children’s services at which Tim Loughton MP, Under Secretary of State for Children and Families will speak. (Monday 28th November).

Giving Sharing and looting: the challenges of community in hard times
Geoff Mulgan, the Chief Executive of NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) will consider the challenges facing communities in the face of tough economic conditions and civil unrest. Geoff will be presenting the 21st Edith Khan Memorial Lecture for UK volunteering and training charity, CSV.

Esther Rantzen kick starts biggest day of UK volunteering
Broadcaster and Campaigner, Esther Rantzen CBE, spoke candidly today about her personal experience of loneliness and isolation ahead of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering (Saturday 29th October). She was meeting volunteers earlier today (Friday 28th October) at the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre near Waterloo at both the launch of Make a Difference Day and the start of the UK tour of the European Year of Volunteering.

Mass action to combat UK loneliness and isolation
Tens-of-thousands of people throughout the UK will be taking mass action to strengthen their communities, improve their environment and tackle concerns around isolation and loneliness in the face of recession and riots.  It comes in the build up to Make a Difference Day, the nation’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 29th October 2011, with events taking place a week either side. Last year more than 70,000 people took part – twice the size of the London Marathon!

UK leg of European Year of Volunteering launched on eve of nation’s biggest single day of civil action
The contribution of tens-of-thousands of volunteers will be marked at the launch of the UK tour of the European Year of Volunteering, on the eve of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering. The launch will be held at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in Southwark on Friday 28th October.

Europeans to debate and celebrate volunteering and social action in Edinburgh
Volonteurope, together with the UK volunteering and training charity CSV, is bringing over 100 participants from all over Europe to Edinburgh to share best practice, network and celebrate volunteering, active citizenship and social action at a major European conference (20-23 October 2011).

Iain Duncan Smith and over 80 MPs takes the Pledge to Make a Difference
Iain Duncan Smith MP joining forces with more than 80 other MPs to take the pledge to encourage people throughout their constituencies to give time to benefit the local communities, after joining pop mogul Pete Waterman and BBC Radio Five Live presenter, Rachel Burden in the build up to CSV Make a Difference Day, the biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 29 October 2011.

Brits are more lonely, isolated and anxious for the future – survey reveals
New independent research conducted by ICM and commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign reveals the extent to which riots and recession are taking their toll on the nation’s anxiety about the future. Nearly a third of young people are more anxious about their future since the onset of recession, while 1 in 10 of the population report anxiety following the summer riots.

Green fingers brighten up local communities to tackle loneliness and isolation
Amateur gardeners are being challenged to use their green fingers to plant flowers, trees and plants in local parks to make communities safer, happier and less isolating, as part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering, CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October 2011. There are free seeds for planting this autumn for the first 200 people to register their gardening events.

Riots, Recession and Loneliness – ‘State of the Nation’ to be revealed
New independent research conducted by ICM and commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign will reveal the state of the nation’s anxiety, loneliness and isolation on the two month anniversary of the summer riots and the third year anniversary of the onset of recession. (Embargo: Thursday 6th October 2011)

CSV Café for trainee Chefs receives grant from Local Freemasons
UK volunteering and training charity CSV has received a grant of £28,000 from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, to fund the further development of two training cafes in Bristol, Café G in Southmead and The Whole Baked Café in Old Market.

European broadcasters descend on London for flagship conference to promote volunteering
UK volunteering and training charity CSV is giving broadcasters from across Europe the opportunity to share best practice about promoting volunteering on air as part of a flagship event being hosted in London for the European Year of Volunteering 2011 (Wednesday 21 to Thursday 22 September 2011).

Young trainees celebrate after meeting HRH Princess Anne
As part of a fact finding mission, HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is to be welcomed on a tour of CSV’s training centre in Redditch on Monday 19th September 2011.

Local approach to public services will save money and improve quality, say charities
Harnessing the best of local communities and involving local small businesses is the best way to improve services in an age of austerity, according to a new report from a group of leading charities including independent think-tank nef (the new economics foundation), volunteering body CSV and social care organisations NAAPS and KeyRing.

‘Bake’ a Chocolately Difference
Chocoholics are being challenged to tackle loneliness and isolation by making a Chocolate Fridge Cake by up-and-coming young Chef, Sam Stern, as part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering, CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October.

Home is where the heart - and job - is say, local teens
There is no place like home for youngsters when it comes to career plans, according to a new report by the Ambition AXA Awards.  When asked about their ambitions after leaving school, teens across the country said there wasno better place to live and find work, with the majority of local 11 to 18-year-olds planning to stay put.  In some areas, up to a third said they saw themselves living in another part of the UK, while 17 per cent – rising to 26 per cent in the North East, Wales and East Anglia – plan to move abroad. (Tuesday 6th September 2011).

Savvy surfers to share computer skills
As part of the biggest single day of volunteering, teenagers and computer enthusiasts are being encouraged to spend time with people who have never accessed the internet to combat isolation and loneliness for CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October 2011.

Young teens write to very ill children in hospitals
As part of the biggest single day of volunteering, teenagers are being encouraged to write letters or draw pictures to seriously ill children in hospitals to combat isolation and loneliness for CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October 2011.

Students invited to boost their career, not their debt!
As many young people prepare to receive their A Level results, students can opt for a career based Gap Year in the UK to gain key skills for employment as an alternative to University.

Letter to the Prime Minister offering help in the wake of the recent riots
We are a group of leaders of national volunteering organisations who got together in the wake of the riots and public disorder in London and other cities.  We want to extend our help to you over the coming weeks as the Government examines the causes of these disturbances and seeks ways to tackle them.

Knit blankets for lonely homeless animals
Animal lovers are being challenged to knit an animal blanket for homeless cats and dogs to donate to shelters to combat isolation and loneliness as part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering, CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October 2011.

Nation to be challenged to help lonely and isolated across the UK
The nation will be encouraged to help lonely and isolated people in local communities throughout the UK this year as part of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 29 October 2011. Last year 70,000 people took part.

Students opt to boost their career, not their debt! 
This year many students will start their University life facing £27,000 of debt or no guarantee of a job due to the youth unemployment at nearly one million. However, an alternative is to opt for a career based Gap Year in the UK to gain key skills for employment. Many will choose their options on A level results day (Thursday 18 August) depending on their results.

Does charitable giving start off young?
As part of the build up to the Ambition AXA Awards to find the most outstanding contribution to the community by a young person, CSV’s Chief Executive considers how driven young people are to make a difference

Professionals urged to consider involving volunteers in care packages
UK volunteering charity, CSV is urging care professionals to include volunteers as part of the menu of options to help people with disabilities to live independently.   Recent changes to rules on personal care budgets have increased the scope to involve volunteers in quality personalised care as an alternative to more expensive options.

Scotland’s Senior Volunteers to be honoured with Queen’s Award
CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteers are be honoured at Holyroodhouse this summer for the positive impact they have in communities around the Forth Valley They are to set to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for their outstanding contribution.

Health Champions tackle ‘embarrassing’ health with new Government funding
UK volunteering charity CSV will train and recruit active citizens across the country to spread important information about embarrassing or taboo health issues amongst marginalised people over 50 years old, thanks to a share of the first ever grants from the Department of Health’s £6 million Volunteering Fund (Embargo: 00.01 Wednesday 1st June 2011).

“Love ponds” launch Green Grants in Scotland
The CSV Action Earth campaign launches on Monday 30 May in Scotland. Hundreds of grants worth up to £500 are available to voluntary groups and individuals thanks to support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

CSV response to the White Paper on Giving
CSV welcomes the over-arching objective of the White Paper to support the development and creation of conditions for a more giving society.  We also welcome the injection of some money towards volunteering in England. At this point we are very unclear where and how that money will be spent to support volunteering and local social action. (Monday 23 May, 2011)

‘Campers’ Cleanse Cathedrals for Summer
An army of young volunteers are spending part of their summer holidays camping at some of the nation’s most iconic buildings to preserve and protect Cathedrals, Churches and Chapels, as part of CSV’s Cathedral Camps volunteering summer tour.

Lucy de Groot joins top names in support of local newspapers
UK volunteering charity, CSV is backing the important role that newspapers play in promoting social action by people in local communities. It comes as CSV Chief Executive, Lucy de Groot, joins other leading names in support of local newspaper industry as part of Local Newspaper Week (9th – 15th May).

Note for your diary – Make a Difference Day 2011
Get ready for the nation’s biggest single day of volunteering, Make a Difference Day on Saturday 29 October 2011 by UK volunteering charity, CSV. This is one of the biggest mass mobilisations of people throughout the country to benefit their communities, what will you be doing?

CSV partners with the Ambition AXA Awards to find UK’s exceptional youth
This week marks the launch of the Ambition AXA Awards which have been created to recognise outstanding young people in The Arts, Community, Enterprise, Science and Sport. (Wednesday 30th March 2011).

CSV welcomes Lucy de Groot as Chief Executive
CSV is delighted to announce the arrival of Lucy de Groot as Chief Executive. Lucy is an innovative, experienced national leader and senior executive who has worked across the public and community sectors at the highest level.

Unemployed youth urged to take a UK Gap Year
With nearly a million young people unemployed throughout the UK, many are choosing a Gap Year in this country as a constructive alternative to claiming benefits and to bring them closer to the labour market.

Volunteer energy will help reading and reminiscence
Enthusiastic volunteers from UK volunteering charity CSV will help reduce some of the isolation experienced by older people living in residential care homes, sheltered accommodation and hospitals/hospices, with support from a £226,375 Big Lottery Fund grant, which is being announced today.

Dame Elisabeth Hoodless calls on would-be MPs to do a year of service
All prospective MPs should do a year of service to their communities according to Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of UK volunteering charity CSV. The challenge will be spelt out as part of Dame Elisabeth’s retirement speech following 48 years of leadership in the sector. The speech will be delivered at Speaker’s House in the House of Commons on Monday 7th February 2011. 

Give a “Bird” a home this Valentine’s Day!
Single Londoners will be heading to Greenwich Ecology Park in South London, on Sunday 13 February to meet like-minded, passionate and friendly people, whilst helping to maintain London’s most beautiful home for birds and wildlife, through the UK volunteering charity, CSV.

Funding grant for online buddies
The UK’s volunteering and training charity CSV will train and recruit active citizens across the country to support people aged over 50 and low income families to go online and stay online, thanks to a grant from Nominet Trust.

Smile, it’s only the most depressing day of the year
“Blue Monday” described by many pundits and psychologists as the most depressing day of the year is on Monday 17 January 2011, but research from the UK’s leading volunteering charity, CSV shows that volunteering can combat January blues.

Citizen volunteers needed more than ever to tackle ‘real need’ in 2011

Public services must embrace the positive impact of volunteers in reducing crime, improving health and protecting children more than ever, according to Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of UK volunteering charity CSV.

CSV ‘honoured’ by selection for the Times Charity Appeal 2010
UK volunteering charity, CSV today welcomed its selection as one of the three charities to benefit from this year’s Times Charity Appeal this Christmas. The Times newspaper has decided to focus on the work of more than 15,000 Retired and Senior Volunteers who have a positive impact throughout the UK through CSV.

European year of Volunteering spreads even further across Europe
The European Year of Volunteering 2011 is to expand even further across Europe with the announcement that the Council of Europe has agreed to back the initiative.

Children’s Minister to ask “Is a Big Society a Good Society?”
Children’s Minister, Tim Loughton MP will be asking “Is a Big Society a Good Society?” for his speech exclusively for the 20th Edith Khan Memorial Lecture on Tuesday 9 November 2010, for UK volunteering charity, CSV.

Is this the real Big Society ‘Making a Difference’?
Tens-of-thousands of people throughout the UK will be showing what grass-roots community action is all about in the build up to Make a Difference Day the nation’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 30th October 2010, with additional events taking place a week either side. This is one of the biggest mass mobilisations of people throughout the country to benefit their communities.

Record numbers of MPs sign-up to back Make a Difference Day
More than 90 MPs have pledged support for this year’s CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday 30th October. They’ll be meeting with CSV’s charity ambassador, Pop Mogul, Pete Waterman at Portcullis House on Wednesday 13th October in the build up to the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering.

British Views on Poverty Revealed
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of people believe that ‘it could easily be me’ when asked about their attitude to people poorer than themselves.

Lucy de Groot appointed Chief Executive of CSV
Lucy de Groot, Independent Chair of Children’s Services Improvement Board, has been appointed the new Chief Executive of UK volunteering and training charity, CSV.

How to” spend more time as a family
Families around the nation are being encouraged to volunteer together to benefit the local community for part of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 30 October.

Students Opt for UK Gap Years over Limited Uni Places
This year record numbers of students will be denied a place at University due to the lack of places and face a difficult jobs market.  Many students are choosing a Gap Year in the UK as a constructive alternative to holidaying in the sun or fruitlessly staying at home on the dole. 

Brits Need More Family Time – survey reveals
New independent research conducted by ICM and commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign reveals that up to half of people want to spend more time with their family.

Social enterprise is praised for work in digital switchover community outreach programme
On Tuesday 6 July Dianne Jeffrey, Chair of Digital Outreach Limited, joined Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries (joint Minister with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), and David Scott, Chief Executive of Digital UK, at a special event held in London’s Southbank Centre to mark the progress made towards the UK’s switch to digital TV.  Digital Outreach (DOL) was founded in 2007 by organisations that include CSV (Community Service Volunteers).

Lord Freud helps troubled teens get backing of older people
A ground breaking project designed to help troubled teenagers avoid turning to crime and designed to improve their prospects in life is to be launched by Lord Freud and the volunteering charity CSV (Monday 14th June 2010) .

“Big Society” volunteering charity wins top award as survey shows gap between attitudes towards volunteering improving society and those prepared to volunteer themselves
CSV demonstrates the practical and effective role volunteers can play in delivering public services and wins one of the most prestigious awards in the charity sector.

Call for Nationwide Community Service stepped up as Dame Elisabeth’s retirement announced
Dame Elisabeth Hoodless who has been dubbed as both ‘the Mother of Volunteers’ and more recently, ‘The mother of Big Society’ has announced her determination to see nationwide community service become reality as the charity announces the search for her successor when she retires next February.

Charity Boards Challenged to Harness Volunteer Energy
A ground breaking free conference, ‘Changing the Profile of Volunteering’, on 1 June brings together key voices across the charity sector to share how organisations can overcome barriers to volunteering and give proper recognition to the positive impact of volunteers. 

Child Protection Project Nominated for National Award
A pioneering project in which volunteers provide support to disadvantaged families with children suffering from abuse and neglect, has been nominated for a major national prize at The Charity Awards 2010 - the UK charity sector’s most prestigious awards scheme.

Leading charities urge new Government to set up citizen’s Task Force
The Network of National Volunteer-Involving Agencies (NNVIA), made up of 46 agencies that include: The National Trust, Age UK, Attend, CSV and The Refugee Council is calling on the new Government to establish a Task Force to report to the Prime Minister on improving citizen involvement across government services.

Youth tackle ‘apathy’ in Barking and Stoke for General Election
Two young people are choosing to volunteer full-time through the UK volunteering charity CSV to ensure that as many young people turn out as possible to vote in the two key areas of Barking & Dagenham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Ponds Prepared for Newt Tenants
In a bid to bring more wildlife into their local area, volunteers along with Tom Curley, Provost of North Lanarkshire today launch the SNH Biodiversity Awards by preparing ponds for Great Crested Newts at Greenhead Moss Nature Park, Wishaw.

City Children Go Green at Ysgol Glan Morfa
On Tuesday 23rd March pupils from Ysgol Glan Morfa and volunteers will take part in a green ‘make-over’ to raise awareness of the decline of urban sparrows, marking the Welsh launch of the CSV Action Earth campaign.  The number of House Sparrows has dropped by an astonishing 50% over the past 25 years.

Iconic Trellic Tower 'dezz rezz' Opens for Buzzziness
A replica of the iconic Trellick Tower block that is designed to provide a home for endangered solitary bees will be unveiled next to its much larger design classic as part of the launch of this year's CSV Action Earth campaign supported by Morrisons.

Sir Jon Shortridge takes over as Chairman of UK volunteering charity CSV
The UK’s leading volunteering and training charity, CSV, today (Thursday 4th February 2010) confirmed the appointment of Sir Jon Shortridge KCB as its new Chairman.

Young People Bring Libraries into the 21st Century
School age children in deprived areas are putting their library back into the centre of community life; making the libraries more relevant to them and encouraging other young people to be involved.

CSV appoints Ruth Jenkins as new Director of Finance
The UK’s leading volunteering charity, CSV today (20 January 2010) confirmed that Ruth Jenkins will be taking over as Director of Finance following the retirement of the current Director, Chris Snelling on 1st April.

Christmas ‘Time Giving’
People are sacrificing their traditional Christmas Day as they join others across the UK who are proving this is the season of goodwill by giving up their time to volunteer. For most, Christmas is the time to relax, eat too much, meet up with friends and family and give and receive presents, but Christmas volunteers like to give something back to their community (December 2009).

New Health and Social Care Funding Opportunity Launched
A new funding model designed to broaden and strengthen investment in volunteering in health and social care was unveiled today by Care Services Minister, Phil Hope and welcomed by CSV. The Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund, will pave the way for a renewed focus on volunteering projects in the NHS and social care by managing the grants system centrally. (Monday 14th December 2009).

2011 European Year of Volunteering gets the green light
The invaluable contribution of volunteers in encouraging active citizenship is due to receive extra recognition and support from the EU, after Culture Ministers in Brussels (27 November) officially nominated 2011 as the ‘European Year of Voluntary Activities’.  The move has been applauded by UK volunteering charity CSV.

Stars rally nation to make a difference
A host of stars from the world of TV and radio is rallying the nation to give time for free as part of this year’s CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK biggest single day of volunteering...

New bank holiday in 2012 would seal a triumphant year for volunteering
A new bank holiday should be introduced in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics and Paralympics and seal a triumphant year for volunteers across the UK, says a coalition of organisations backing a Community Day bank holiday today...

Britain’s happiness levels exposed
New research commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign reveals the current state of the nation’s happiness with up to 88% of adults feeling less happy than when...

Criminal checks must not discourage volunteers from giving time
11 September 2009 Responding to the new vetting and barring scheme, which will be introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from October, for the purposes of Criminal Records Bureau checks...

Inspire Europe to Volunteer
11th Sept. 2009  2011 will be European Year of Volunteering and members of the public are being invited to design a logo and slogan to represent the year. The EU-wide "Let's Slogo!" competition has been...

Combat A Level Blues by helping others
19 August 2009  National charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is urging A Level students across the UK to consider taking a volunteer gap year as a positive way to ride out...

CSV is Backing Young Britain
August 2009 CSV has become the latest supporter of one of the UK's most exciting campaigns for recognising the talents and aspirations of young people in Britain today. "Backing Young Britain"...

Digital TV Home Help
August 14 2009 With less than 100 days to the start of digital TV switchover across the North West, volunteering charity CSV is calling on community spirited people to ‘give time’...

MPs get behind random kindness crusade
Over 50 MPs signed up to take action to improve local communities this week, when they joined pop mogul Pete Waterman and BBC Apprentice star Claire Young to get behind...

Teenagers give back in park love-in
A group of Lewisham teenagers will be helping clean up Forster Memorial Park (Catford) this summer (29 June - 2 August) as part of a project that aims to give...

Sanctuary turns monkey poo to compost and scoops award
29 May 2009 A monkey sanctuary in Cornwall with volunteers from the seaside town of Looe have scooped a national environment cash prize for turning 10 tonnes of monkey poo, produced every...

Pop tycoon launches city volunteer service
22 May 2009 COVENTRY born Pop mogul Pete Waterman will this Wednesday (27 May, 2009) open a new West Midlands service for adults over 50, to improve their well being. The songwriter...

Apprentice star says giving time increases job prospects
Nine out of ten people say ‘volunteering increases job prospects’ according to a new survey by CSV (30 March 2009). The survey carried out amongst former volunteers, by the UK’s leading...

Giving time is ticket to success in the credit crunch
This month posters are going up outside entertainment venues in Birmingham and London in a bid to persuade young people to make a positive difference to the lives of others, as the..

‘Don’t Write Us Off,’ say nation’s ‘hoodies’
Young people fed up of being labelled uncaring, feral yobs will be taking to the streets across the country in hoodies this Saturday 6th December 2008  as part of the national ‘Don’t Write Us Off’ campaign run by Agents4Change volunteers...