The Big Help Out returns in June 2024 to champion volunteering across the UK, inspire people to make a difference in their communities, and demonstrate the sheer variety of opportunities available to all. The BHO 2024 is calling for everyone to pledge to #LendAHand over the weekend of June 7th - 9th and beyond, and charities and community groups are encouraged to upload their volunteering opportunities and spread the word ahead of this date.
At 3SG, we are encouraging members to use the national conversation around volunteering to promote your own work, whether this includes engaging with the Big Help Out or not.
There might be more people looking for volunteering opportunities around this time, and it is important to make sure your organisation is visible. This could be from simply using the Big Help Out hashtags, to uploading your volunteering opportunities to the Do It app.
This year, The Big Help Out will take place over the weekend 7th – 9th June, coinciding with
the end of Volunteers' Week*. This is different to last year, when the Big Help Out took place
on 8th May, the bank holiday of the King’s Coronation. Last years' inaugural campaign saw 6 million people get involved, with over 7 million indicating a higher likelihood of volunteering as a result of seeing the BHO in action.
The Big Help Out is hoping to return bigger and better in 2024, aiming for scale and sustainability, to reach new and diverse audiences. 2024's campaign hopes to encourage millions to volunteer and build a legacy from 2023; empower organisations to convert one-off volunteering into sustained engagement; and reach under-represented and diverse communities who need extra help to volunteer.
Charities and community groups in Bath & North East Somerset can gear up for The Big Help Out by:
Setting up a BHO account (written guide available here)
Uploading your activity - this can include events, pledges to complete an action, and ongoing opportunities to volunteer
Download the NCVO Resource Pack here (under The Big Help Out section heading), which features tools and guidance to help get your organisation behind the BHO
Sharing the call to action far and wide! Inspire the public to volunteer and get involved by promoting The Big Help Out in your communications, including sharing the media campaign to drive people towards your volunteer roles (Download the #LendAHand Campaign creatives and personalise them, using the hashtags #BigHelpOut, #LendAHand and #Volunteers on social media)
Tell the media campaign team at /Together about your planned BHO events, for the possibility of extra publicity, via this form.
NCVO - one of the organisers of The Big Help Out - recently held several open webinars to introduce The Big Help Out and provide more information for VCSE organisations. You can watch one of the recorded webinars here.
For technical support on the BHO platform please contact hello@dotit.life
The Big Help Out 2024 is coordinated by a team at the /together Initiative, working in partnership with experts, consultants and partners to make the campaign a success. You can get in touch with the team working on the Big Help Out by emailing info@together.org.uk
*Sign up for Volunteers' Week email updates from NCVO here.