Henry Smith MP has taken the pledge in the build up to the Community Service Volunteer’s (CSV) Make a Difference Day campaign to encourage people throughout the area to give their time to benefit the local community.

Henry said:

“I’m proud to support to CSV Make a Difference Day and to help make local communities thriving and happy places through the sharing of career skills and hobbies which can help improve others in the local area.

“Organisations such as school and sports clubs, small charities and community groups desperately need people to share their skills and passion in order to survive. Everyone has a skill they can make use of to help others and individuals all over the country can benefit from simply doing what they love. Such a small amount of time and effort can help others significantly and I urge people in Crawley to get involved.”

Henry was joined by Music Producer, Pete Waterman who has given MPs across the nation a ‘pledge kit’ with a host of ideas to benefit others, such as sharing their career skills, planting flowers in a local park, baking a Banana and Chocolate Chip Cake to donate to a lonely neighbour, homeless shelter or nursing home and even knitting hand puppets for children.

CSV Make a Difference Day, is the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 27th October 2012with events taking place a week either side. This year the focus is sharing skills and personal passions to support the local community. The campaign is looking to demonstrate how giving time through volunteering with friends, family and neighbours and being an active member of the community can help local community clubs, groups and small charities survive during difficult economic times.

The campaign is looking to empower individuals and groups to volunteer this year with new independent research showing that over three million people have been more inspired to volunteer due to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.