About the UK's biggest celebration of community
The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out are teaming up on 5-8 June for a weekend of friendship, food, fun and action – and everyone’s invited! It’s a chance to meet, eat and lend a hand locally.
Led by charity the Eden Project, it’s all about coming together to make a difference in our villages, towns and cities this summer.
What’s it all about?
Running annually since 2009, The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours and communities bringing millions of people together to share friendship, food and fun on the first weekend in June.
Whether it’s cake with a few neighbours, a bite to eat with a local group or a party for the whole street, for those that join in, The Big Lunch helps to grow local connections, boost wellbeing and spark local action – doing wonders for community spirit.
The Big Help Out started in 2023, encouraging people to have a go at volunteering, lend a hand and make a difference. Millions of people took part in 2023 and again in 2024, as charities offered simple opportunities for people to find out more and see what volunteering was all about. By joining in, people can meet others, develop skills, and help create stronger, more resilient communities – all while being part of a shared UK-wide moment of positive action.
How can you take part?
What you and your charity do is up to you – there are lots of ways to get involved, from listing your opportunities on GoVo to holding a Big Lunch to say thank you to your existing volunteers.
You could run a taster day to attract new volunteers and showcase the types of roles available in your charity or community group. Getting people in through the door to help with something simple is often the start of something more.
Feeling connected and valued is hugely important, so structure your taster session to help people feel useful and give them a chance to meet others.
Whether your aim is to recruit or celebrate volunteers, The Big Lunch and Big Help Out weekend, 5-8 June, falls at the end of Volunteers Week, making it the perfect time to shine a light on how people support the work that you do!
