Boris Johnson's latest initiative to improve the lives of Londoners aims to boost the number of volunteers in the capital.

Johnson said: "Volunteering is good for individuals and great for London in tough economic times. By giving your time, whether a one-off few hours or a regular commitment, we can both help to make the capital a more civilised, pleasant place and reap the rewards of putting something back into the communities in which we live.

"Volunteering is also a fantastic way to develop new skills and boost employment prospects, so by helping others, people are also helping themselves."

A website (www.london.gov.uk/volunteer) featuring a one-stop-shop of volunteering opportunities in areas as diverse as gardening, health, animal charities, sports clubs, arts groups, youth groups and the emergency services has also been launched.

Currently, more than 8,500 volunteer organisations are registered with London's network of volunteer centres, and it is estimated that an additional 16,000 people sign up each year.