MP CALLS ON SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE GIVING NATION

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 19th Jun 2003

MP for Guildford Sue Doughty and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Giving, is calling on the secondary schools in her constituency to take part in Giving Nation, a UK-wide scheme encouraging 11-16 year old to switch on to charity and the community.

Sue Said: "Our Secondary school pupils already do a great deal to support good causes by volunteering their time and putting their efforts into fund-raising. Giving Nation is a chance to celebrate their efforts and build on it for the future. I want to see all our schools involved because it's good for them and it's good for our community".

Giving Nation has been developed by the Giving Campaign - a partnership between charities and government to develop a stronger culture of giving in the UK. It has been designed to support the citizenship curriculum for 11-16 year olds and is endorsed by the Department of Education and Sills. It aims to help young people understand the power of giving and the importance of charities in shaping a fair and inclusive world. It promoted initiative, participation and choice - giving young people the tools they need to tackle the issues they care about.

Sue will be visiting secondary schools in her constituency during this week to hear more of their fundraising activities.