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 this year’s launch of CSV Make a Difference Day.

Held on Saturday October 31 the campaign – now in its fourteenth year – is the UK’s biggest day of volunteering, organised by CSV.

This year, the campaign is dedicated to creating a wave of small ‘kindness acts’ as a way to bring communities together, during an uncertain economic climate. This week the MPs pledged to take kindness to a whole new level by organising their own ‘kindness events’ to brighten up their constituencies and inspire other local projects and volunteers to sign-up.

CSV Ambassador and pop mogul Pete Waterman told the MPs this week “Whatever you feel needs doing, and whatever your background or age, this is the time to act. MPs have a powerful role to play in bringing organisations, local council’s and individuals together to make a difference.”

CSV is calling on MPs to organise an activity that will lift community spirits and bring people together in a wave of ‘random kindness’. Ideas include:

• Give out cakes in a shopping centre ‘street stunt’
• Organise a mass street litter, graffiti and dog's mess clean
• Visit a nursing home and give presents to residents who never get visited
• Share a smile and have proper conversations, as a way to give support
• Organise an event to pass on a skill to a different generation
• Turn a local piece of wasteland into a community garden.

Alison Seabeck MP (Plymouth, Devonport) said: “It’s easy to forget in the day-to-day chaos how powerful we are to make changes. Through volunteering we can take action to spread kindness and make a real difference - which is why I’m signing up this year.”

CSV Make a Difference Day is a flagship event and is an opportunity for people to try volunteering with activities the two weeks either side of the 31 October. Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part, giving time rather than their money to make a positive impact on local communities.

CSV supporter, BBC Apprentice Star (2008) Claire Young said: “My motto ‘just do it’ applies to everything I do, and I like to see things getting done instead of waffling on! With so much financial uncertainty flying around, we need each other more than ever. If every MP signed up to volunteer to spread a little kindness imagine what could be achieved!”

To find out more, register activity, or take part in a project near you, call the Make a Difference Day free hotline on 0800 284 533 or visit our website at www.csv.org.uk/difference. 

Further press information contact: CSV Make a Difference Day on 020 7812 0038 / 0037 or 07866 757 389.

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Notes to editors

1)     CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 31 October 2009, with activities underway the two weeks either side.  The campaign is organised by the UK’s leading volunteering charity, CSV (Community Service Volunteers)

2)     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.  Last year, more than 100,000 people gave over 4 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV