Local MP backs campaign for schools to be part of a "Giving Nation"

1.06.05

Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, is calling on all local secondary schools to take part in Giving Week this year, scheduled from 2nd-8th July. With local school pupils already active in raising funds for charity - for example, after the Boxing Day tsunami disaster, Edward sees this as an opportunity to celebrate pupils' existing charity and community activity as well as a chance to gain recognition for their achievements in the online regional Giving Nation Awards.

This is the third year of this independent youth initiative and the Giving Nation's campaign to engage 11-16 year olds in charity and the community.

Edward Davey MP said:

"Our secondary school pupils already achieve so much for charity. This is a chance to recognise the great deal of effort they put into supporting good causes, and to encourage others to join in.

"Taking part in Giving Nation's G-Week offers these young adults the opportunity to showcase to their schools and local community the positive impact of young people's activity and we are looking to build on this for the future. I hope all schools can get involved."

Further information

Giving Nation has set two challenges for pupils during G-Week 2005. The first one is to take up the "We Are What We Do" challenge, for individual actions that change the world when adopted en masse. These can include turning off taps to save water, planting trees and writing to someone who has inspired you.

The second challenge is artwork on the theme of global warming to bring attention to the threat of sea-level rise to islands devastated by the tsunami. Giving Nation will send a petition in art to G8 leaders, meeting in the same week as G-Week. The 2005 Giving Nation Awards have been launched in a new online format, enabling pupils to create their own school charity pages hosted on the Giving Nation site.

Giving Nation exists to promote all charities to young people whilst raising the status of charitable giving among 11-16 year olds. Launched in 2002, materials are now in over 70% of UK's secondary schools. In addition to class materials, G-Week celebrates schools' charity activity, an awards event takes place at Downing Street in October and www.g-nation.co.uk has over 15,000 registered members. 2005 is also the year of the volunteer.

Schools can order their free Giving Nation pack and find out how they can get involved by calling 020 7367 0504 or visiting www.g-nation.co.uk As part of his new campaign to secure better train services for local commuters, Edward Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has met with top management at South West Trains and is set to meet the Transport Minister shortly.

The campaign "Trains not Shops" aims to ensure the 5 platforms at Waterloo International, freed up when Eurostar moves to St Pancras in 2007, are earmarked for the use of train commuters on current routes into Waterloo, and are not turned into a new shopping and office development.

Commenting on the meeting, MP Edward Davey said:

"Getting 5 extra platforms for commuter trains into Waterloo is a once in a generation opportunity to improve our local train services. Ideas for turning the 5 platforms into office and shop space must be stopped. We want trains not shops.

"So I was grateful for South West Trains for meeting me so soon after the election. I'm delighted SWT could confirm that using the platforms being vacated by Eurostar in 2007 could help them improve their train services.

"Potential benefits from 5 extra platforms include fewer delays outside Waterloo, especially in the peak, faster journey times, more services and less overcrowding.

"Working with Susan Kramer, the new Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park, I'm drawing up a plan of action for this campaign. I'm now due to meet the Transport Minister shortly and am pushing for a range of meetings with key officials and groups.

"Local commuters have put up with too many delays, too many cancellations and too much overcrowding for far too long. It would be madness to see this precious railway infrastructure turned into shops and would be a betrayal not just of today's commuters but of generations to come."