Organisers of the Big Help Out and Big Lunch have estimated that just over 15 million people took part in this year’s events.
Big Lunch and Big Help Out events took place across the UK on 5-8 June under the umbrella of the Big Do, with participants joining in with activities including street parties, litter picks, open days at animal shelters, library food-sharing events and beach cleans.
Following a nationally representative survey of 4,000 people by PHAR Partnerships, the organisers now estimate that 15.04 million people took part in the events this year.
Created by the Scouts and Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), the Big Help Out was designed as part of King Charles III’s coronation and first held in May 2023.
In 2024, the Big Help Out reported that an estimated 6.5 million people took part, compared with 7.2 million in 2023, while it was not held in 2025.
This year, the Big Help Out joined forces with the Big Lunch, run by the Eden Project since 2009, when it was supported by Queen Elizabeth II.
Volunteers more optimistic about community
Meanwhile, a survey of 6,000 people by Public First, funded by Pears Foundation, found that seven in 10 people believe things in the UK have worsened over the past five years, 65% think Britain has become more divided.
Despite this, 62% of respondents that have volunteered recently felt optimistic about the future of their local area, compared to a quarter of those who had never volunteered.
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the RVS, said: “There was a fantastic variety of opportunities available this year to encourage people to get stuck in and give volunteering a go; there really was something to suit everyone.
“That’s what the Big Help Out is all about: inspiring more newcomers to experience the many benefits volunteering can bring to them and to their communities. The hope, and the big win for society, is that a percentage of those first-timers choose to carry on volunteering and make a difference in their community.”
Lindsey Brummitt, programme director at Eden Project, said: “We’re truly blown away by the huge number of people who jumped at the chance to come together for the Big Lunch and the Big Help Out this year.
“But while this is positive news, we know that communities are struggling at the moment, with the high cost of living, deepening social divisions and a decrease in communal spaces often feeling like insurmountable barriers.
“We hope that the sense of neighbourliness seen in June can continue to prevail all year round and that more people are inspired to take action. From checking in on an elderly neighbour to clearing litter on your street, every small act makes a difference.”
