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.

Jason Tanner, CSV’s Head of Press, who was part of the bidding process for the appeal said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the backing of The Times which has a very strong track-record of reporting the positive benefits that volunteers have whether protecting children at risk, improving care of frail elderly people or improving the reading age of children in schools.

“Our older volunteers want to be seen as a solution for society, not as a problem. CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteers start and run community-based projects, covering everything from helping in schools to the environment, tackling fuel poverty, improving health and social care, supporting heritage and culture, knitting and other crafts.  RSVP volunteers don’t just deliver projects; they also set up and manage them.  Over 400 volunteers are area or project organisers, or regional co-ordinators.  This means that CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme is volunteer led and delivers low cost, high impact projects bringing significant benefit to individuals and communities.”

The Times Charity Appeal offers readers the chance to support three good causes, while also providing the charities with an excellent opportunity to raise their profile and generate much-needed income. As part of the appeal, the newspaper will print significant feature articles about the charities over the seasonal period, from late November to early January. These articles, alongside a range of interactive content, will also appear in a dedicated section of The Times website.

Top name journalists have already started visiting volunteer projects ahead of a series of features on the work of CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteers. They include Libby Purves who is examining how volunteers are combating isolation of older people and Education Correspondent Joanna Sugden who has visited a school in South Lambeth to discover how volunteers help improve attainment, self-esteem and behaviour. Alyson Rudd who oversees the Times Book Club has joined in one of RSVP’s Telephone Book Clubs to find out how housebound people keep their minds active and stay in touch through their passion for books. Times Health Correspondent, Chris Smyth has been finding out how trainee doctors learn about ‘growing old’ from RSVP volunteers while Education Editor, Greg Hurst is due to see how knitting and music benefits children with visual impairments.

During the Summer, CSV was pleased to welcome The Times’ Social Affairs Correspondent, Rosemary Bennett to see how older volunteers are helping troubled young people through grand-parent style mentoring. This follows earlier visits to meet participants of CSV’s award winning Volunteers in Child Protection scheme.
The Times Christmas Appeal has raised a total of £1.7 million over the past two years for its featured charities. Typically, the Times can receive up to 200 applications for its prestigious appeal every year. The other beneficiaries in 2010 are the medical aid agency Merlin and the Spinal Injuries Association.

Further press information: Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598 or Francesca Toma on 020 7812 0037 / 079661 68686
 

Notes for editors:
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. Every year CSV helps transform the lives of over 1 million people. Last year 165,666 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV including 15,348 Retired and Senior Volunteers. The charity worked with 13,423 learners of all ages.  www.csv.org.uk