{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"A national day of volunteering has been announced for 8 May, the Bank Holiday Monday of the Coronation weekend.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EInspired by HM King Charles III\u2019s life of service, The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves, while celebrating those who already volunteer. The aim\u0027s to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the Coronation weekend.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDeveloped by Scouts and the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Royal Voluntary Service\u0022\u003ERoyal Voluntary Service\u003C/a\u003E, and organised by the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://together.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Together Coalition\u0022\u003ETogether Coalition\u003C/a\u003E, we want the day to inspire a new generation of community volunteering.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDozens of volunteer-supported charities and organisations have already agreed to take part, including \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.ncvo.org.uk/#/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022NCVO\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#/\u0022\u003ENCVO\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.rotary.org/en\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Rotary\u0022\u003ERotary\u003C/a\u003E and the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022National Trust\u0022\u003ENational Trust\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19771/the-big-help-out-new.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"Graphic logo for The Big Help Out.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EPowering our communities\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-people/chief-scout/\u0022 title=\u0022Chief Scout\u0022\u003EChief Scout, Bear Grylls\u003C/a\u003E launches the plan today (Friday 27 January) and it\u2019s set to be one of the centrepieces of the celebrations for the Coronation of HM The King and HM The Queen Consort in May, only 100 days away.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Volunteering has always been a huge part of what makes this country great,\u2019 says Bear.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018From families looking after evacuees during WWII to neighbours looking out for each other during the pandemic.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018But it\u2019s not just in times of crisis that we step up. Volunteering - whether formal or informal - is what powers our communities, from Scout volunteers to helping out at the school fete.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The Big Help Out will put volunteering centre stage for a day and give people who want to volunteer easy ways to join in. So please save the date \u2013 Monday 8 May - and join us at the Big Help Out in your community.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19668/beaver-with-parachute.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"A Beaver in a blue jumper runs under a parachute","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EScout plans for the big day\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the run-up to the day, we\u2019ll be helping raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering. We\u2019ll also be \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/preparing-for-the-big-help-out/\u0022 title=\u0022Preparing for The Big Help Out\u0022\u003Esupporting Scouts to create volunteer opportunities\u003C/a\u003E in local communities around the UK on 8 May.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019ll be a chance for people take part in taster sessions and give volunteering a go. As part of the plan, we\u2019ll be helping local Scouting create pop-up activities in public spaces, such as town centres and parks, giving people the chance to try grass sledging, giant Jenga, traditional bushcraft and more.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFamilies will be able to try activities and think about taking the next step to joining Scouts and volunteering themselves.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENationally, Scouts will be supporting The Big Help Out with communications, resources, programme ideas and advice. \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022http://www.thebighelpout.org.uk\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022The Big Help Out\u0022\u003EThe Big Help Out\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E will also offer easily accessible opportunities across the UK.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19162/squirrels-lighting-fire.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"A volunteer sits by a campfire with two Squirrels either side.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ELearning skills and having fun\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMatt Hyde OBE, CEO of Scouts and co-chair of the Big Help Steering Group, masterminded the idea with Catherine Johnstone, CEO of Royal Voluntary Service.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMatt said: \u2018Scouts are proud to be leading this work with a broad coalition of volunteer-involving charities, so we can recruit more volunteers to help others, learn new skills and to have a bit of fun along the way.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together and have a go at volunteering,\u2019 says Catherine.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Whether it\u2019s your first time, or you are an experienced volunteer, The Big Help Out will make it easy to get involved in something that matches your interests and fires your imagination.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Find out more about our Coronation plans","buttonLink":{"name":"Coronation","id":null,"url":"/national-events/coronation/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"002f6c","label":"002f6c"},"alignment":"left"},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Be part of The Big Help Out","buttonLink":{"name":"The Big Help Out","id":null,"url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"002f6c","label":"002f6c"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"26 January 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"The Big Help Out","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"The Coronation of HM The King","url":"/national-events/coronation/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Preparing for The Big Help Out","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/preparing-for-the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Volunteering with Scouts","url":null,"newWindow":false}],"id":76430,"nodeName":"Leading The Big Help Out","title":"Why we\u2019re proud to help lead The Big Help Out","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/19771/the-big-help-out-new.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf49a059458c0","caption":"The Big Help Out New","type":"jpg","size":68054,"width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"Graphic logo for The Big Help Out."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Why we\u2019re proud to help lead The Big Help Out","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"A national day of volunteering has been announced for the Coronation weekend.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NjQzMCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/january/leading-the-big-help-out/"}