Organisers of the Big Help Out have decided to put the volunteering event on hold this year but plan to return in 2026.
Co-founder and chair Matt Hyde said organisers’ capacity to plan a 2025 version of the event, originally held to coincide with King Charles’s coronation, has been limited by external factors including the change in government last year.
In a statement issued today, and originally published by Third Sector, Hyde also said celebrations for VE Day’s 80th anniversary this year could have caused charities to choose between it and the Big Help Out.
“We were encouraged by some to run the Big Help Out on VE weekend and were offered funding for this, but we felt that would distract, and even potentially undermine such an important moment for the country,” he said.
“It would also not fit for many charities, large and small across the nation, for whom the Big Help Out is a unique opportunity to increase their profile and attract new volunteers.
“Hence the decision to pause The Big Help Out in 2025 and build for something even bigger in 2026.”
‘Disappointment’ for some
Last year, the government-funded Big Help Out reported that an estimated 6.5 million people took part, a similar number to its inaugural year of 2023.
Despite this “staggering” turnout, Hyde said, the steering group wondered what it could achieve without other competing events such as last year’s election or VE Day this year.
He said: “I know that for some the decision not to run the Big Help Out in 2025 will be a disappointment, but it was always intended to be one aspect of a much wider transformation programme for volunteering across the country and it’s a decision made with integrity – and a moment where head rightly had to win over heart.
“There is a big difference between repeating a one-off event and establishing something that adds value each year in the nation’s calendar.
“We now have the time to build something truly game-changing in 2026 and the years ahead to inspire a new generation to volunteer in ways that work for them.
“Volunteering has a vital role to play in a decade of renewal for the country. So, with that ambition, we’re cooking up something big, and we’d love to work with you on it.”
‘Work will continue’
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of NCVO said: “The Big Help Out is an amazing way to connect charities who need volunteers with millions of people around the country who want to help their communities. While the Big Help Out is pausing for this year, that work will continue.
“Charities across the country still need the support of volunteers, perhaps now more than ever, as the sector works to tackle some of society’s biggest issues, against the backdrop of a complex and challenging operating environment.
“All those involved in the Big Help Out, including NCVO, will continue to champion the extraordinary social and economic impact that volunteering has throughout the year, and we’re all looking forward to celebrating the role they play during Volunteers’ Week this summer.
“We’re excited for the Big Help Out to return bigger and better than ever in 2026.”
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