Orange launches landmark mobile volunteering project in the UK

* First large-scale project set to uncover the true potential of mobile volunteering
* Pioneering use of a mobile platform to innovate and radically change how people give-back in their spare time
* Mass collaboration between social entrepreneurs, charities and developers to explore this potential

Orange UK has today launched an innovative new project using the power of mobile technology to help transform volunteering in the UK. Orange is aiming to make minutes matter by introducing convenient, snack-size volunteering, so consumers can volunteer anywhere, anytime. Using mobile technology, Orange aims to turn down time into good time, generating hundreds of thousands of extra hours of volunteering in the UK each year.

In the first phase of the project, Orange is aiming to crowd-source new ideas by launching an online community for new ideas and concepts to be collaboratively developed and discussed around the concept of mobile volunteering. Social entrepreneurs, charities and developers have all been invited to participate in this development process at www.mobilevolunteering.co.uk.

The top 10 volunteering actions that can be completed on the mobile will then be developed and funded by Orange – to create the ultimate volunteering app.

Stuart Jackson, Brand Communications Director for Orange at Everything Everywhere says: “We’re taking responsibility as a company for maximising the true potential of the mobile phone - to see how it can be used to empower consumers to do acts-of-good whilst on the move.

“In trying to crowd-source these ideas, we’ll develop this concept in collaboration with top industry experts to ensure that the end product has a very real impact on UK society. It is an exciting vision that builds on our heritage of innovation whilst at the same time aims to inspire millions of people to give just minutes of their time – making a massive difference to UK society.”

Social entrepreneurs, charities and developers interested in participating should visit www.mobilevolunteering.co.uk for further information or to get involved.