The Big Help Out and The Big Lunch: a weekend of volunteering, community and celebration

Opportunity Eden Project, Shaping the Future with Volunteering May 28, 2026 2 Minutes

The Big Help Out and The Big Lunch – a UK-wide weekend of volunteering, community, and celebration – will take place from Friday 5 to Monday 8 June 2026.

Delivered by the Eden Project and Shaping the Future with Volunteering, with support from DCMS and the Pears Foundation, the 2026 event invites everyone to meet, eat, and lend a hand. Millions are expected to join in!

Bespoke toolkits are available for groups ranging from the education sector to businesses and charities; please see the relevant sections below.

General Information and Resources

Host an Activity: Organise a Big Lunch or volunteering activity of your own.
Spread the Word: visit The Big Do website which provides a range of resources to help promote the weekend, as well as inspiration and tips for getting involved as a volunteer.
GoVo Platform: Upload volunteering opportunities or signpost that opportunities for the weekend are available to sign up to via the GoVo platform, delivered by the Royal Voluntary Service.
Webinars: Learn more about GoVo by joining one of the upcoming webinars; please sign up here. The next sessions are on the 14th and 20th of May and all are welcome.
Event Map: Add any events to The Big Help Out and The Big Lunch map for prospective volunteers to find and sign up to.

Sector-Specific Toolkits & Wider Resources

Charities and Organisations: The TBL/ BHO toolkit and social media assets for volunteer-involving organisations can be found here; I have also attached the toolkit for ease. This includes event and volunteering ideas that are short, simple and flexible to allow people to give volunteering a go throughout the weekend. There are also newsletter and social posts that are ready to share, as well as listing guidance for publishing opportunities.
Local Government and Housing Associations: Specific guidance and support is available here.
Education Resources: Free resources, including a comms toolkit and lesson plan guidance, are available here. Lesson plans include the following:
- Primary schools: A live lesson from the Eden Project Rainforest Biome with classroom activities.
- Secondary students: Resources for young people to design and deliver their own social action projects.
- I have also attached the Education Comms toolkit.
Businesses / Corporate Partners: If applicable for stakeholders, the TBL/ BHO Business Toolkit is available here and attached.

Volunteers Week Webinar

You can watch a recording of the Volunteers Week webinar from 14 April here, or download the slides here. This webinar provided guidance about how to use Volunteers Week as an opportunity to thank and celebrate volunteers through The Big Help Out and The Big Lunch.

If you would like to contact the Eden Project directly about The Big Help Out or The Big Lunch, please email: