Today The Royal Gazette launches a campaign to encourage residents to show they care about their home and its people.

Through 'Dare to Care' we want the people of Bermuda to get involved in acts of kindness that could better our Island.

It could be a quick check on your elderly neighbour, a helping hand to a stranger, picking up trash when you see it, giving your seat to an older person on the bus, or regular volunteer work.

Or, it could be like 53-year-old Winfield Symons who has made a positive impact in the lives of three young boys, by devoting his time and becoming a 'Big Brother'. (See separate story inside).

Already we have support from the Island's leading figures including Premier Ewart Brown, United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan and church and charity heads. They all say it is time for people to give back.

The most important support, however, must come from the people of Bermuda, and this newspaper wants to hear whether small or big what things you, your family and friends are doing to show that you care.

Royal Gazette editor Bill Zuill said: "As the Island's only daily newspaper we are committed to raising the profile of volunteer work being undertaken at all levels of society and in all neighbourhoods in Bermuda by ordinary citizens.

"We want to encourage people and organisations to take part in 'care' projects on the Island and thus give back to the community."

Mr. Zuill continued: "We are doing that as part of this campaign, and we are also doing it as a newspaper through our 'Your Vision, Your Goals' advertising programme, in which we have set aside $100,000 worth of free advertising for eligible charities.

"We expect to be announcing the charities we are supporting as a newspaper through that programme very shortly."

Dr. Brown said: "Dare to Care is an initiative that I can strongly endorse. In my speech to the Country last month, I reminded us all that we have a history of working together and caring for each other. This initiative builds on our strength as a people and I willingly endorse it."

Opposition Leader Kim Swan said: "Dare to Care is a campaign that we within the United Bermuda Party can support and I as leader will rally around.

"It is important to appreciate the great work that is done by so many charitable organisations in Bermuda PRIDE, Project Action, P.A.L.S. Salvation Army, LCCA and many others. But the work of charities are only a success because of the good men and women that support and run them.

"It is important to acknowledge the contributions of many of our guest workers and their spouses who have done much toward Bermuda charities during their time on our Island as well."

Mr. Swan continued: "There is much that we can do personally that is in the spirit of being 'our brother's keeper' that will help us with our own spiritual enrichment.

"This campaign is to be commended, because it was the spirit of giving, fellowship and brotherly love that was a common core value of our founding fathers and mothers from all of our diverse backgrounds."

Jennifer Burland Adams, development and engagement manager for The Centre on Philanthropy, which has a drive to register 4,000 volunteers, said: "The Centre is a major supporter of The Royal Gazette's Dare to Care campaign.

"Everyone can lend a hand, and the Dare to Care campaign will encourage every individual to use their time and talent to get engaged in helping build a better Bermuda."

Pastor Gary Simons, of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, also lent his support to the cause, saying: "So many times in newspapers we read of bad news. I'm so glad that we are celebrating the sacrificial giving of others that from the grass roots are investing in our greatest resource... people."

Nick Dill, the priest in charge of the Anglican parish of Pembroke, said: "I fully support the idea. We live in a time of fragmenting community life, but it cannot just be up to Government or institutions to make the difference.

"Each one of us has been uniquely created; we have unique experiences and situations, likes and personalities and each of these means that we all have something unique to offer to others.

"We may not be able to change the world, we may not feel we have many gifts or much money to offer, but if we can benefit just one other person through sharing of ourselves through acts of kindness, words of encouragement and prayer we can, all together, make a difference and change a society. This applies to people of all ages."

* If you are doing something to support Dare to Care let us know! E-mail news[AT]royalgazette, write a letter to the editor or call us on 295-5881 or 278-0157 to share your stories or let us know what you think about the campaign.