A message from His Majesty The King for the launch of Big Help Out 2024

I have long believed that one of the greatest strengths of our nation is our ability to come together and help each other through times of hardship. Throughout my life, I have been encouraged and inspired by those selfless volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to helping others, across all communities and across the full breadth of our country.

That is why, last May, I was so delighted that volunteering became a cornerstone of The Coronation celebrations. It was wonderful to learn that, throughout that week, some 7 million people answered the call to join the first Big Help Out initiative, giving precious time to their communities and to worthy causes across all four nations of the United Kingdom.

It was a source of great pride to my whole family that, thanks to all those millions who took part, The Coronation became a moment not just to celebrate continuity and nationhood, but also the values that we have long held dear: kindness, compassion and service to others.

As I said in my Christmas broadcast last year, this is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves. In so doing, we also bring out the best in ourselves.

That is why I am delighted to support the return of the Big Help Out in 2024. This Summer, between June 7th and June 9th, there will be another opportunity to join so many dedicated volunteers in giving time to a worthy cause of their choosing, whether that is supporting a local food bank, tending a community garden, spending time with a vulnerable person or teaching a skill to young people. Whoever and wherever you are, each of us will have a chance to play a small part in helping transform our communities for the benefit of all.

This year, the Big Help Out is particularly keen to invite schools and businesses to be a part of this special moment. Young people’s energy and enthusiasm can be enormously valuable, and business is a vital part of the fabric of both our local communities and of our wider society.

So, if you are able, I can only encourage you to support the Big Help Out once more, thereby helping to build the kinder, closer communities of which we can all be so proud.

Charles R