24 July 2007
Gordon Brown has announced plans to "pay tribute to the people who represent the very best of Britain" every 24 July and to encourage more public service and social action.
At a speech at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, he said:
"Today we are here to recognise and celebrate men and women who are at the forefront of change but are seldom if ever in the public spotlight.
"With their achievements in mind, I want to recognise and celebrate a growing spirit of service in our country.
"And today as a government we want to show our commitment to those who every day show their commitment to our country."
- Read the full speech
- Watch excerpts of the speech on YouTube (new window)
- Watch the full speech in Windows Media
- Listen to a podcast of the event - mp3
The PM went on to outline the Government’s plans to support public service in communities throughout the country.
He said that they would financially back thousands of small community-led projects and examine how a new social investment bank might help support charities.
Volunteering would be further encouraged by investment in voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises, as well as the transformation of youth volunteering into a national youth community service. The Government also plans to reform the honours system to better recognise contributions to civic society.
Mr Brown said that the Government would encourage the use of multimedia for community and social action by creating the Awards for Social Technology. He will also launch a web-mentoring initiative, HorsesMouth, at a reception this evening.
To inspire people to combine their business skills with a desire to deliver lasting social and environmental change, Mr Brown said that Ed Miliband would launch a search for twenty new Social Enterprise Ambassadors this afternoon.
And following on from this morning’s breakfast meeting, he said that some of London’s top business leaders had "agreed to utilise their talents and experience to help address key social challenges and strengthen leadership within the voluntary sector".
As he launched his book, "Britain’s Everyday Heroes", he said that he wanted to see "24/7 every year becoming a day in which I, the Government, and the country as a whole can honour all those acting for good, and be inspired by the countless acts of social commitment which are shaping our country each day".
"This is my idea of Britain and Britishness today - not the individual on his or her own living in isolation sufficient unto himself but the individual with a sense of belonging that expands outwards as we grow from family to friends and neighbourhood; a sense of belonging that then ripples outwards again from work, school, church and community and eventually outwards to far beyond our home town and region to define our nation and country as a society.
"A Britain where people recognise that it is indeed the duties discharged by each of us that are the key to improving the well-being of all of us.
"What I have seen while writing this book reinforces my faith in the capacity of individuals working together to transform communities and to change lives."
As he returned to Downing Street, Mr Brown and Mr Milband met existing Social Enterprise Ambassadors including Big Issue founder, John Bird, and Apprentice winner, Tim Campbell.
For information on the new Council on Social Action announced by the Prime Minister today visit the Cabinet Office website (new window).
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