Public Servant Lifestyle

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is arguing that a 'Community Day' holiday would give huge boost to the UK's 20 million volunteers - and are marking the longest period between present bank holidays by calling for a new annual holiday in October.

The Community Day campaign - backed by the TUC, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Volunteering England, Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) - is calling for a new bank holiday to give people a break from work and encourage them to participate in community activities. Community Day will celebrate the contribution that volunteers make to society and help community groups to publicise the work they do.

Good Works

The TUC states that tere are countless ways in which people could participate in Community Day. Activities for the proposed day could include:

Organising a street party

Tree planting or dry stone walling

Volunteering in a hospital

Refereeing or fundraising for an inter-office sports day

Walking a dog from the local animal shelter

In addition to celebrating the work of voluntary groups, the proposed Community Day aims to encourage more people to take up volunteering on a regular basis. The voluntary sector is estimated to be worth £40 billion a year to the economy, so a 5% increase in the number of volunteers would cover the cost of an extra bank holiday. Other benefits of Community Day include giving people the chance to learn new skills and improve their health, as well as bringing communities together.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "The UK has fewer bank holidays than nearly every other country in Europe, so there is a huge demand for an extra day off work. Many people would also love to volunteer, but can't find the time because of work and other commitments. A Community Day would give everyone the chance to participate in their local community.

"Politicians are always waxing lyrical about the contribution that voluntary groups make to society. So why not properly recognise their work and give the voluntary sector a fantastic recruitment drive by backing the campaign for a Community Day bank holiday."

Commenting on the idea of a Community Day bank holiday, Executive Director of CSV, Dame Elisabeth Hoodless said: "Getting involved in your community can cut crime, improve our schools, protect the environment and improve health. We need it now."

Justin Davis Smith, Acting Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said: "People volunteer for different reasons. For some, it's wanting to give something back to society in general, or to a service from which they've personally benefited. For many, it's a way of making friends and getting to know new people. And for others still, it's about getting out of the house and improving their physical and mental health. Whatever the reason for getting involved, Community Day provides the perfect opportunity for people to extend themselves and try something new, strengthening their communities at the same time."

Celebrate Achievements

Kevin Curley, Chief Executive of NAVCA, said: "A Community Day will celebrate the achievements of the thousands of voluntary and community organisations working to make a real difference to their local communities. Day in day out millions of people are tackling poverty and exclusion, improving the environment, providing activities for children and young people and bringing different people together. Community and voluntary organisations change lives, improve neighbourhoods and bring communities together. Lets have a day that celebrates what they do and encourages more people to get involved."

Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the NCVO said: "A Community Day would be the perfect opportunity for people and communities to celebrate the inspirational work that voluntary and community organisations do throughout the year. By making people more aware of the voluntary work going on in their areas, it would also encourage more and more to engage in community activity to build their skills and, most importantly, help transform other people's lives."

Great Britain currently has eight bank holidays - compared to a European Union (EU) average of 10.9 days. In the EU only Romania has fewer bank holidays than Great Britain...

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