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Last updated: 23 November 2008
Today the Prime Minister joined award-winning social technology pioneers, local community volunteers, and fellow government ministers in celebrating the powerful impact of ordinary people driving social change across the country each and every day.
One year on from the initial announcement that he would use July 24 – or ‘24/7’ – as a day to recognise the work of unsung local heroes, the PM led a day of activity to celebrate social action wherever it takes place, and thanked all those who work so tirelessly to improve individual lives and communities – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Gordon Brown said:
“I want to use 24/7 as a day to say thank you to all those who work so tirelessly for social change. I believe it is time to celebrate the best in Britain and, by celebrating it and emulating it, to build an even better future for us all."
Catalyst Awards
The Prime Minister hosted an awards ceremony for people using cutting edge technology to profound social effect.
The Catalyst Awards are a strong demonstration that the rapid changes in technology we are witnessing today can be harnessed as a force for good. They are a way of bringing people together, sharing talents and experiences to help others, and enable people to mobilise change.
Gordon Brown said:
“Our thriving third sector continues to find innovative ways to tackle issues. We are creating a new generation of activists, campaigners and social entrepreneurs who are showing us just how the newest of technologies can help solve some of the oldest of challenges, building a more just society and better, stronger communities."
Today's awards were co-presented by Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, and John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, at a reception in central London.
Offering his enthusiastic support, Phil Hope said:
“These awards show us just how social technology can have a profound and powerful impact in delivering social change. It’s now up to all of us – central and local government, big business, and the third sector – to support and enable a creative and thriving environment in which organisations and communities continue to come together in new and groundbreaking ways."
The awards are run by Make Your Mark, with support from the Office of the Third Sector, and funded by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and NESTA.
Local heroes reception
The Prime Minster also hosted a reception in No10 for local heroes from across the country who have been at the forefront of driving social change in their communities, but are seldom if every in the public spotlight.
Addressing the reception, Gordon Brown said:
“We don't report enough on the good things that people do - the volunteers we have in so many areas. We want to thank you - I don't think we thank people enough. Some of you are doing very, very special and unique things that are being followed in other parts of the country."
These were just a handful of the UK’s unsung heroes, that include carers, neighbours and mentors offering support at times of need, community leaders building stronger communities, social innovators pioneering new ways of addressing today's social challenges, and ordinary men and women in every neighbourhood who are doing extraordinary things each and every day.
Chain Reaction
Speaking on the day, the Prime Minister looked ahead to “bold new international collaborations to promote social action” – such as Chain Reaction, a new global forum on social leadership to be held later this year (on 17-18 November 2008 on London’s Southbank).
First announced last summer, the aim is to learn how social leaders can use their individual and collective actions to make a real change. Looking to the practical solutions to social problems, the event will draw together international delegates from the world of business, politics, celebrity and community, putting people together in unexpected groups (eg world leaders will work with children; business leaders with micro enterprises).
Progress on social action
The Prime Minister also used the day to look back at some of the pioneering work done on social action in the last year.
Last year the Prime Minister called for reform to the Honours system to ensure that everyday people are being recognised for doing extraordinary work on social action. In the New Year’s Honours list 08, some 78% of those awarded MBEs and OBEs were involved in charitable or voluntary work or services to their community.
Earlier this year the Government also led a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the honours system and to inform people of how to nominate.
Last year also saw the formation of the Council on Social Action, made up of leading figures from business, media, voluntary sector and social enterprise, alongside government ministers and senior officials.
Throughout this year the Council has worked with a range of departments across government to explore and develop work on engaging people more effectively in social action, including promoting one-to-one relationships through mentoring, volunteering and coaching.
Supporting the third sector
On 24/7 last year the Prime Minister also unveiled the Government’s 10 year vision for its partnership with the third sector – the Third Sector Review. Work led by the Office of the Third Sector has seen the launch of major new funding schemes aimed at getting money to the grassroots of communities, greater support for capacity building within the sector and to empower the sector to play a greater role in delivering public services where appropriate, as well as new efforts to cut red tape and make it easier for charities to operate.