David Cameron announces support for community groups in four areas

19th July

In a speech in Liverpool on 19th July, Cameron said groups of "vanguard" projects in Liverpool, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Sutton in London and Windsor and Maidenhead would be given an organiser and a team of civil servants from the Communities and Local Government department to help them with their work and to break through bureaucratic obstacles.

The projects in Liverpool include a scheme to recruit volunteers to work in museums, and those in Cumbria include a local group that is attempting to take over its community centre.

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Big Society Bank will start with £60 to £100m in unclaimed assets, say government advisers

19th July

The Big Society Bank is likely to have assets of between £60m and £100m by its planned opening date next April, according to the government's advisers on the project. The money is to come from dormant accounts in banks and building societies, which have been estimated by the British Banking Association to contain £400m. Some third sector finance specialists estimate the sum could be ten times that.

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Big Lottery Fund backs youth projects with £30m programme

Youth in Focus established to help young carers and young people leaving care or youth offending institutions. The Big Lottery Fund is making £30m available to fund projects that provide support to young people in England. The Youth in Focus programme has been set up to help three specific groups: young carers, young people leaving care and young people leaving youth offending institutions.

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London will recruit 8,000 volunteers as tour guides for Olympics

13th May

London Development Agency scheme will use volunteer centres to manage recruits. Volunteer centres in London are being lined up to recruit and manage about 8,000 volunteer tour guides for visitors to the capital during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The LDA is expected to provide more details of the scheme in July.

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2011 to be the European Year of Volunteering

The European Commission has decided to propose that 2011 be designated the "European Year of Volunteering". The Council is expected to endorse this decision, after the European Parliament has been consulted, by the beginning of next year.

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The 25th Hour Campaign

The 25th Hour is the time we spend helping others. Helping people out is a national passion. Every year, millions of people all around the country give up billions of hours of their time to lend a helping hand. Somehow, we find the time. It’s like there’s a 25th Hour in the day. Imagine if everyone used their 25th Hour – the effect would be really powerful. The 25th Hour recognises that London 2012 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s a chance to take the inspiration of the Games and use it to achieve something extraordinary.

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