PM's message for National Sewa Day
Prime Minister David Cameron has sent his best wishes to those marking the first ever National Sewa Day
The initiative is a day of social action which gives local communities the chance to take the responsibility for overcoming the challenges of disadvantage and deprivation by harnessing resources and talents that exist within them.
Mr Cameron said National Sewa Day showed how the Big Society could work in practice and that there is a “real appetite” for social action in the UK.
The PM said:
I want to send my very best wishes for National Sewa Day. It is fantastic that thousands of people are volunteering their time to help others, whether that’s by planting trees, cleaning communal areas, helping with soup kitchens or painting murals in schools. It says great things about the Sikh community and the Hindu community, and about this country, and I believe it gives us hope for the future.
When I talk about building a Big Society - where neighbours and communities come together to make life better - some people say it will never happen. They think it won’t work because there aren’t enough people out there who want to play their part. National Sewa Day shows how cynical that is.
The truth is there is a real appetite in our country for social action. It gives people the feeling of belonging that comes with working with your neighbours; it gives the feeling of fulfilment that comes from making a difference. Doing good feels good, which is why it is this government’s mission to bring people together and build the Big Society.
I wish you the best of luck with National Sewa Day.