Voluntary and Community Action urges local MP to back Community Day public holiday

Voluntary and Community Action has called on Andrew Selous to back the campaign for a new Community Day bank holiday in October that will celebrate the contribution that voluntary and community activity makes in South Bedfordshire. The day would provide an opportunity for local voluntary organisations and community groups to publicise their activities, and give people in South Bedfordshire an opportunity to organise one-off events designed to improve their local community.

Supporters of a Community Day are calling for a bank holiday on a Monday in late October, as it would split the four-month gap between the late August bank holiday and Christmas Day, currently the longest period between bank holidays. The date is also next to the October half term, which will help families to take part in Community Day together.

Britain has three days fewer public holidays than the European average, and the campaign says that a new Community Day would help bridge the gap with a new holiday that has a serious purpose. The national campaign is supported by the Trades Union Congress, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Community Service Volunteers, Volunteering England and the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action.

In the letter to Andrew Selous, John Gelder of Voluntary and Community Action says: “Voluntary and Community Action would use a new Community Day to promote local community action, where local people can make a real difference to their neighbourhoods and other people's lives. We would promote the work of local voluntary organisations and community groups and the multitude of different volunteering opportunities that people can try out. The day could also be used by local people to organise one-off events designed to improve their local community.”

We hope that our MP and lots of local people will join us by showing their support on the Community Day website www.communityday.org.uk, not just by signing up as a supporters but also answering the big question, what would you do on Community Day?

Note to editors:
Contact:    David Allen, Information Officer
Comms:    01525 850559, info@action-southbeds.org.uk