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.

Brighten up local parks and plant colourful flowers, create a small green space by a bus stop or improve local wildlife and sow a mini meadow. Improving the environment of local neighbourhoods can really make a difference to people who feel isolated or lonely in the area.

Gardeners can turn their green fingers and help a disabled or elderly neighbour with their garden, mow the lawn, plant pretty flowers or simply have a chat in the great outdoors to make their lives less isolating and lonely.

Did you know that gardening is not only good for the environment; it also helps your waistline! CSV Make a Difference Day research found that 42% of volunteers in environment and conservation projects say volunteering helps them lose weight while 61% say volunteering helps them combat stress.

Former Police Chief, Brian Paddick, says “My experience of community policing showed me that improving your neighbourhood environment and getting to know your neighbours are two key steps to creating safer, less isolating communities.”

“Activities from reporting faulty street lights to creating community gardens or helping isolated neighbours all make a huge difference to the lives of others. Take part in CSV Make a Difference Day this year and make where you live a happier, more welcoming place!”

Make a Difference Day, part of the UK volunteering charity CSV, is giving away a free how-to guide to combat community isolation. The how-to guide offers a variety of ways on how to make your neighbourhood a safer, less isolating and happier place.

Each year tens of thousands of people take part in the campaign to benefit the community. The nation plants thousands of flowers in community gardens, cemeteries and school playgrounds; helps out in local charity shops; knits hats and gloves for premature babies and visits lonely people in nursing homes, homeless shelters and hospitals – to give a few examples.

Other free How-to Guides include:

•    ‘How-to make a chocolatey difference’ a special Chocolate Fridge Cake recipe by Chef, Sam Stern
•    ‘How-to volunteer to end loneliness’
•    ‘How-to write a difference’ for very sick children in hospitals
•    ‘How-to get online’ for people who have never used the internet
•    ‘How-to knit an animal blanket’ (because homeless pets are lonely too!)

CSV Make a Difference Day is on Saturday 29 October 2011, with activities taking place a week either side. Project Organisers can register their event on the CSV Make a Difference Day website to encourage more people to attend and claim their free Action Pack, which includes certificates, stickers, t-shirts, how-to guides, and a Handbook which contains advice, case studies, hints and tips to help plan and carry out an activity.

To register your event visit or find out more information visit www.csv.org.uk/difference or call FREEPHONE 0800 284 533 or email difference@csv.org.uk 

For further press information: Francesca Toma on 020 7812 0037/ 07966 168686 or Jason Tanner on 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598

Notes for Editors

CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 29 October 2011 and activities take part a week either side. More than three quarters of a million people have taken part since the launch of CSV Make a Difference Day in 1996, and thousands more are expected to give time rather than money to improve their local community this year. The campaign is organised by CSV (Community Service Volunteers).

CSV creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action.

Help us in the quest to celebrate young achievers. Ambition AXA Awards are targeted at 11-18 year olds and have been created to recognise outstanding young people involved in The Arts, Community, Enterprise, Science and Sport.  The winner in each category receives a bespoke mentoring prize worth up to £40,000 per category to progress their ambitions so that they can continue to make that all important difference. CSV is helping to judge. Please encourage young people you know to apply by visiting www.ambitionaxaawards.com or www.facebook.com/ambitionaxaawards