Countries unite in volunteering in German state visit hosted by HM The King and HM The Queen

His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of The Big Lunch since 2013, were joined at Windsor Castle by The President of Germany and Ms Elke Büdenbender on Thursday 4 December, to enjoy a showcase celebrating the power of volunteering.

From young people to guide dog trainers, adult literacy to food banks – volunteers with more than a dozen charities spoke about their experiences and how volunteering changes lives.

The event formed part of the President of Germany’s State Visit and was hosted by Matt Hyde, Chair of The Big Help Out, and Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project.

In 2026, The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out will come together to encourage one big weekend of community and action in the UK on 5 – 8 June.

The showcase was also supported by Shaping the Future with Volunteering and celebrates the collective power of the people who give their time to support groups and good causes across all aspects of everyday life.

For the Coronation in May 2023, over 7.2m people joined in to lend a hand and try volunteering with the inaugural Big Help Out. That same year, 14.1m people strengthened local connections by taking part in The Big Lunch as part of Coronation events made possible by over 600k informal volunteers. Together they demonstrate how volunteering is open to all as a way of bringing communities together, as well as promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of the volunteers themselves.

Inspired by this demonstration of community spirit, and showing how the impact of volunteering transcends borders, the President of Germany has instigated a similar volunteering initiative, “Der Ehrentag” taking place on 23 May 2026 mirroring the UK’s big weekend taking place on the 5-8 June.

By coming together, The Big Help Out and The Big Lunch aim to give community action a boost, encouraging many millions of people to eat, meet, and roll up their sleeves to make a difference for people, place and planet.

Coordinated by the Eden Project, the joint campaign will incorporate thirty-six of the largest volunteering charities in the ‘Shaping the Future with Volunteering’ network and engage voluntary organisations of all sizes across the UK who are keen to welcome and inspire new volunteers, thank
their existing volunteer networks and celebrate communities.

Matt Hyde OBE, Co-Founder of The Big Help Out and CEO of the Lloyds Bank Foundation said: ‘We are thrilled that The Big Help Out is returning in 2026 and we’re particularly pleased that it will be hosted by our friends at Eden alongside The Big Lunch. These two fantastic initiatives bring people together in communities, encouraging them to connect, have fun and take action on causes they care about. We’re going to be mobilising charities, businesses, and community-led efforts to make this a weekend to remember with a lasting positive impact’.

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