The Big Help Out

Trying volunteering out for the first time at an animal shelter

The UK’s biggest volunteering weekend returns in 2026

All members join in the Big Help Out. A Working Group works with partners to ensure the mechanics work as well as possible.

Once again Shaping The Future is playing a central role in its organisation. With our partners we will be coordinating thousands of organisations and millions of people as they give up their time to help improve their local community.

The first Big Help Out took place on the Coronation Bank Holiday Monday in 2023 when more than 6 million people took part. In June 2024 a similar number joined in activities ranging from litterpicks and planting trees and shrubs to painting lidos and even cleaning lifeboats. But it’s not just about cleaning and tidying.

Our activities and family fun days build communities too – more than three-quarters of participants said they had met people from different backgrounds and a similar number said the weekend gave them a real sense of belonging.

Shaping the Future charities recruited volunteers to existing roles and in mass ‘citizen science’ engagements. Many small and medium sized charities for the first time were able to reach new volunteers beyond their existing communication channels.