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.

This year, people will have a positive impact on a huge range of causes that range from creating homes for snakes, bees and newts and protecting ancient burial mounds through to helping premature babies and even walking on hot coals to benefit children.

Every year, research shows that for many people this is the first time they will volunteer. Nearly two-thirds go on to volunteer again once they ‘catch the bug’.  CSV Make a Difference Day is the perfect opportunity to get ‘stuck in’, make friends, get fit, spend time with the family and get to know the neighbours. Last year more than 67,000 people took part – almost twice the size of the London Marathon!

CSV Charity Ambassador and Pop Mogul, Pete Waterman, who gives his time for free says: “Families, children, community groups, individuals and local MPs are joining forces to do something spectacular. I want family and friends to spend time together and volunteer a little to benefit their local community.” Pete will be planting borders at a community garden in central London on Wednesday 27th October in the build up to the big day.

Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of CSV says: “Make a Difference Day is a powerful point of entry for tens-of-thousands of volunteers. It offers the chance to do something for other people, with other people, for just one day. It invites everyone to participate. Government research shows that millions of people would volunteer if only they were asked. Make a Difference Day makes that ask. The key element is that over 2000 people throughout the UK identify a need and then ask thousands more to join them in meeting it.”

A small sample of this year’s event highlights include:

Snake a Difference in Tyne and Wear this weekend. Fancy building a snake hibernaculum in Chopwell Woods on Thursday 28th October?  Hibernacula are underground chambers that snakes use in the winter to protect them from the cold.  Volunteers will be digging holes and making their “homes” snug for snakes and other animals.

Bees need your help! Volunteer with the vinvolved team at Voluntary Action Coventry to help replenish the habitat of the local bee population at the University of Warwick campus. Bees are a vital part of our planet and as Einstein says “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then Man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more life.” Help the team in Warwick on Saturday 30 October.

Learn the traditional art of walking on fire coals. Aberlour Child Care Trust are organising an inspirational and barrier-breaking experience for sponsored individuals who want to walk across 20 feet of wood embers burning at an astonishing 1236 degrees Fahrenheit without experiencing any pain or injury. The Glasgow event takes place on Sunday 7th November.

Help save a premature baby by knitting little hats at a volunteer’s house in Perth in Scotland. Volunteers will be knitting hats for premature babies to keep them warm this Winter, the hats will be donated to the local hospital. Join them for a ‘knit-in’ on Saturday 30th October.

Sharing circus skills:  Circus Starr is getting magical with Nottingham residents for a free circus workshop that will give the local community a chance to meet the internationally acclaimed cast of Circus Starr and learn circus tricks under their watchful eye, all within the traditional Big Top. (Saturday 30th October)

Tackling homelessness in London. The Junior League of London (JLL) volunteers will roll up their sleeves and get involved through seven specially planned “Done in a Day” activities in the London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Wandsworth.  During the two-week Make a Difference Day campaign, JLL volunteers will be serving meals to homeless individuals, collecting food for soup kitchens, repainting a community centre, and helping decrease social isolation by treating homeless women to dinner and a film and bringing young people out of their neighbourhood to enjoy Bonfire Night in Battersea Park.

The young and old tackle the Nintendo Wii: Young volunteers are teaming up with Age UK to teach older people how to use the Nintendo Wii. This inter-generational Wii party will take place in Clarence House, Humberstone Gate, Leicester on Wednesday 27 October – come along if you think you’re a Wii expert.

A safe haven for newts: Kitbridge Great Crested Newt Reserve in Newport, Isle of Wight is creating safe hibernacula’s for the newts. Their new “homes” will be a safe haven as it is a sad fact that the number Great Crested Newts are declining. Help build these new homes on Wednesday 27 October.

Think of yourself as the next Terry Wogan? Have a go in the DJ box at the hospital radio for Kent & Sussex Hospital on Sunday 31 October. Learn how to present for radio, have a tour of their studios and discuss any volunteering opportunities with the radio team!

Create bat homes, bird houses and willow tunnels: All Saints Primary School, Leicester, are building bird houses, bat boxes and other animal homes for their playground. The team of volunteers is also making pathways, willow tunnels and a willow structure to create an exciting outdoor learning experience for the young pupils. (Saturday 30 October)

Zoo trip for disabled children: Children’s charity, Caudwell Children, Staffordshire, are organising a trip for disabled children and their families to Drayton Manor Park and Zoo on Tuesday 26 October.  The families rarely have the opportunity go out as a whole family due to high costs and a lack of transport options. Gift of a Day is a programme that gives disabled children and their families the chance to have a fun day out with minimal stress that is supported by volunteers.

Fancy yourself as the next England striker? Practice your football techniques with a football tournament in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on Saturday 30 October. Rotherham Volunteer Centre are working in partnership with RUFC Sports Trust, Mencap and Voluntary Action Rotherham to run a football tournament, and other fun events, to raise funds for the Pakistan Flood Relief.

Time Team addict? Pretend you’re with Tony Robinson on Time Team and discover ancient burial mounds in Cromer, Norfolk on Saturday 30 October. This essential archaeology project will help prevent the disappearing mounds and preserve the natural ancient landscape. The silver Birch tree roots literally grow into the mounds and ruin them and once the mounds are lose, they never come back and we lose the prehistoric features.

A healthy living and environmental workshop is being held in Cornwall on Saturday 30 October. Volunteers are organising a day of activities for families to enjoy; learn how to cook healthy meals with a cookery demonstration, help out in the allotments and polytunnel, and make your own jewellery and crafts.

Daffy mad in Cardiff! The Friends of Moorland Park, Cardiff Parks and hundreds of volunteers are planting 1500 daffodils on the Tuesday 2 November in their local park.  

In addition, big charity names such as Barnardo’s and Sue Ryder Care are organising events at shops and other venues to help people try out volunteering as part of Make a Difference Day.

Adoption Champions is a national community involvement scheme run by BAAF – the British Association for Adoption and Fostering. The initiative will encourage adoption experienced people to go into their local communities and use their experience, passion and enthusiasm for adoption to encourage others to adopt. The initiative aims to help find families for some of the 4000 children waiting for adoption every year in the UK. Monday 1st November to Sunday 7th November

Thousands of volunteers have already received their free Action Packs which includes inspirational “How to” guides, CSV Make a Difference Day t-shirts, a Divine Milk Chocolate Bar and thank you certificates!  

Take photos at your CSV Make a Difference Day event to be in with a chance of winning a camera and a photo printer. CSV are on the look out for the most “fun” photo; whether its children covered head to toe in flour baking a pumpkin pie for an isolated neighbour or a grandma knee deep planting her family tree in a community park. All you have to do is take fun photos and email it with your contact details to difference@csv.org.uk by Friday 12th November.  

This is the 15th Make a Difference Day organised by CSV the UK’s leading volunteering charity. Nearly three quarters of a million people have taken part so far. This year the campaign is also encouraging families to volunteer together to help others; new independent research shows that up to half of Britons (48%) say they would like to spend more time together and volunteering to help others is one way to do this.

You still have time to register your CSV Make a Difference Day event to receive free resources to help create an inspirational volunteer project. So whether you want to take part with your family, company, school, community group, or even go it alone, get in touch now by visiting www.csv.org.uk/difference or calling FREEPHONE 0800 284 533.

Notes for Editors:

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

CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 30 October 2010 and activities take part a week either side. Nearly 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.

The Family Time Survey was commissioned by CSV Make a Difference Day and conducted by ICM. ICM interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2000 adults aged 18+ in GB via online between 9th and 14th July 2010. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.  100 children aged 11-17 were polled randomly across GB, fifty aged 11-14 and fifty aged 15-17. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk