CWU supports proposed Community Day bank holiday in 2013

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 29 Oct 2010, 15:21

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CWU supports proposed Community Day bank holiday in 2013

27th October 2010

The CWU supports the TUC's call for the government to introduce a new Community Day bank holiday on the last Monday in October 2013 to coincide with schools' autumn half term holiday and break the four month gap between the August and Christmas bank holidays.

A 2004 TUC survey found that over 90 per cent supported the idea of a new bank holiday with the most popular date being the Autumn half term.

0CWU General Secretary, Billy Hayes said: "The idea of a new bank holiday in October would not only be a popular initiative for obvious reasons but would make sound economic sense in terms of encouraging volunteering and community work to uplift local communities, the economy and the morale of the public at the same time.

"Volunteering exercises would also tackle the rise in unemployment by providing people with an opportunity to learn new skills and network through their involvement. It is a win win for the government, the British public and those organizations that rely on volunteers to function".

The TUC has estimated that the initiative could be worth £500 million if the focus on volunteering and involvement in community groups is embraced. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber commented: "People in the UK already have a solid record of getting involved in voluntary and community work, but there is still a great potential for more people to join in. A new bank holiday with a theme of encouraging people to take an active role in their communities would be the perfect way to bring the country together."

With the announcement of a special bank holiday to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on the 4th June 2011, the TUC believes that this initiative is viable and suggests that the Community Day bank holiday should be implemented in 2013, a year after the one-off Diamond Jubilee holiday.