Nearly seven million people are expected to take part in the Big Help Out this weekend, organisers have said.
The initiative, which will be held from 7 to 9 June, aims to boost participation in volunteering through events and campaigns hosted by charities.
Organisers said that there are more than a million opportunities to volunteer through the Big Help Out’s app and almost seven million people are expected to take part in this year’s initiative, research indicates.
The first Big Help Out event, which was held on the extra May bank holiday weekend marking King Charles’ coronation last year, saw an estimated 7.2 million people take part and included more than 30,000 charities offering 55,000 events for volunteers.
The return of the Big Help Out has been backed by King Charles, alongside other famous faces including the astronaut Tim Peake and the TV and radio presenter Anneka Rice.
The survival expert and chief scout Bear Grylls, who helped to launch the initiative, said: “Across the weekend, millions of people are going to be doing extraordinary things in every community in the country – and it’s not too late to get involved.
“Wherever you live, whatever you’re into, however long you’ve got, there will be volunteering opportunities on the Big Help Out app to suit you. So, whether it’s kids’ football, foodbanks, community clean-ups or supporting your local scouts, there are brilliant things open to you.”
Organisers hope that including a working Friday as one of the event’s days will encourage more businesses and schools to participate, saying that thousands of students are already set to take part with their local school, with the support of Votes for Schools, Guide Dogs UK, #IWill and Bookmark Reading.
Events planned for the weekend include a homelessness challenge hosted across 15 locations spanning three days, run by the homelessness charity Hand on Heart.
The Royal Voluntary Service will run an “open doors” campaign which invites people to source the right volunteering role for them among hundreds of opportunities on offer.
St John Ambulance plans to host a giant collection, which will see hundreds of volunteers go into local communities to raise funds, and Sports England will encourage local clubs to host taster days over the weekend.
The three-day event is being run by a partnership between the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and a coalition of 30 major UK charities, including Age UK, Barnardo’s, British Red Cross, Cats Protection, National Trust, RNIB, RSPCA, Samaritans and the Scouts.
It is being funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with support from official partners Asda, Compare the Market and the delivery company DPD.