Mayors of Eastleigh and Southampton launch airport appeal for Global Xchange

Both the Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Peter Wall, and the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor John Slade, have united at the airport today to launch an appeal to local people to support Global Xchange, the airport’s flagship community project for 2007.

Southampton Airport will be welcoming 18 young volunteers to the region for the first time ever. Nine young people from across the UK will join with nine young people from the Philippines to give over 6000 hours of voluntary work to the local community.   

The Global Xchange project will be taking place in the Eastleigh and Southampton areas for 3 months, starting in March 2007. The group will then complete a further 3 months of voluntary work in Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. The project, which is run by VSO, the British Council and CSV, has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from the BAA Communities Trust, BAAs own charity, and V, a new youth volunteering charity launched by the Government last year.

The Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Peter Wall, said: "John and I have joined forces today to help launch this fantastic project on behalf of the airport. We are asking local people in both Southampton and Eastleigh to come forward with potential community projects. We would also be very keen to hear from local people that are able to accommodate a pair of volunteers between March and June this year."

The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor John Slade, said: "We are delighted to be launching this project for Southampton Airport. The project is especially close to my heart, as the Philippine Childrens Fund is one of my official charities this year. I look forward to seeing the community projects in action around Southampton and Eastleigh."

Xenia Davis, Global Xchange Programme Supervisor, said: "This project gives young people the opportunity to make a real difference in a developing country and a UK community, and to learn more about the way other people live. As part of the way Global Xchange works we’re looking for families to host volunteers for between 2-10 weeks. Hosts are offered a weekly allowance to contribute towards accommodation and food costs and will be supported by two project supervisors. It’s a chance to learn a little bit about this exciting south-east Asian country and to be part of a successful and innovative community project."

Jan Halliday, Director of Communications at Southampton Airport, said: "I am proud that the airport is able to provide this wonderful gift to its neighbours, through the work of the BAA Communities Trust. I hope the volunteers will leave long lasting legacies in both the Eastleigh and Southampton areas, as well as in the Philippines, for people to enjoy now and in the future."

If you are able to support the programme, or would like more information about Global Xchange, contact Xenia Davis, Programme Supervisor, on 07968 099 775 or email Xenia.Davis@vso.org.uk.

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Notes to Editors
BAA Communities Trust was established over 10 years ago by BAA.  Since then it has made grants of nearly £4 million for projects in communities local to the company’s seven UK airports, to support charitable initiatives by staff and to global projects linked to youth development.

V was launched in May 2006 with a key objective of inspiring 1 million more young people to volunteer. The Government has set aside up to £50 million over three years to support the nationwide initiative. For more information visit www.wearev.com

Global Xchange is an exciting partnership run by VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and the British Council. Previous exchanges have seen over 300 young people (aged between 18-25) from the UK and partner countries including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Kazakhstan coming together to live and work in communities across the UK and worldwide. 

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. VSO volunteers live and work with some of the poorest communities in the world to share their skills and leave a lasting impact.  For more information visit www.vso.org.uk

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.  Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and increase appreciation f the UK’s creative ideas and achievements. We operate in 110 countries and territories around the world.  www.britishcouncil.org

CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV.  www.csv.org.uk