Kindaware

In 2007 more than 50% of MPs supported the introduction of a new public holiday

Figures from the BBC report showed 85% of Scottish MPs supported an extra bank holiday compared with 54% of English MPs and 51% of Welsh MPs The study was conducted by tour company Thomas Cook and surveyed more than 150 MPs. They also started a petition in a bid to put more pressure on the government to approve an extra bank holiday.

In August 2007, a political think tank also urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to create a new bank holiday in November, to thank community heroes called 'Community Day' 'Community Day' was campaigned for as Great Britain has 8 bank holidays compared to: Sweden 13, Portugal 13, Malta 13, Netherlands 10, Northern Ireland 10, Italy 10, Finland 15, France 11, Germany 13, Denmark 10, Austria 15, Spain 16, Solvenia 14.
Sources: European Trade Union Confederations, www.startinbusiness.co.uk.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warned of the costs that may be caused by introducing another bank holiday though. Britain is almost unique in Europe in having no bank holidays between the summer and Christmas and the TUC report felt it would improve work-life balance and encourage active citizenship and greater participation in communities. The following where involved in this report: The Trades Union Congress , The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Community Service Volunteers, Volunteering England, The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action.

A TUC poll conducted earlier in 2004 found that over 90% supported the idea of a new bank holiday and the most popular date for that holiday was the Autumn half term. The report felt then that an ongoing extra public holiday could over time, play a fundamental role in reducing crime, social division and distrust. It felt it would also help in terms of money lost as a result of crime and social divisions and the money spent trying to ameliorate and respond to them. They believed any successful effort which can tackle these intransigent problems would clearly have very great economic benefits. Thus, the ongoing benefits to the UK economy and to public spending of 'Community Day' in terms of voluntary labour, improved health, skills development and social cohesion should more than compensate for an on the day loss to UK business.

In the summer of 2011, there were severe riots. Community activity is a central tool in the creation of social capital and networks, which play such a vital role in preventing and reversing social degradation.

In 2012 a new petition is starting to campaign for an extra bank holiday. The public will be urged to do something kind on this extra day, to support their communities and Pay It Forward.