Voluntary and community groups across Harrogate district are taking part in The Big Help Out, a national volunteering campaign taking place over the King’s coronation bank holiday weekend. 

People are being encouraged to lend a hand in their local area on Monday 8th May, to find out more about local volunteering and to consider giving time on a regular basis in the future. From checking in on someone who’d like a bit of company or volunteering for a charity the more of us who join in, the bigger help we will be.  Volunteers play a vital role in building thriving communities and supporting local people. 

Harrogate 
At HADCA, we’re excited to be taking part in The Big Coronation Celebration, a free Family Event in the Valley Gardens from 6- 8th May. The organisers have provided space for a community hub and we’ll be there on Monday from 10am - 4.30pm providing information about volunteering opportunities and our own services. 

On our stand we’re inviting people to nominate the “King and Queen of their community”; someone that they know makes a positive difference in their community in any capacity. That might be volunteering for a local charity, taking their neighbour’s bins out, walking someone’s dog or litter picking to keep their neighbourhood clean. 

We want to celebrate and reward people who do good every day and when all the nominations are in we’re delighted that our own VIPs will be recognised with some great thank you rewards, thanks to some generous local businesses. 

Our friends from Harrogate Community Fit will also be helping out in the Valley Gardens; look out for them in their bright orange t shirts and have a chat with them about how they combine doing good with keeping active around the town throughout the year. If you would like to get involved helping out on the day, or helping out at the regular tasks, you can find out more here 

The Harrogate BID team are collating a list of volunteers ready to make a big difference in the town on May 8th painting, weeding, litter picking and more
For more information please email info@harrogatebid.co.uk or you can get involved here

The Big Help Out Volunteer Street collectors
If you’ve a big, persuasive smile and the ability to tell everyone about the great work that Open Country do, they’d love you to join their street collection team on Saturday 6 May in Harrogate town centre.  

Pop in to the Victoria Shopping Centre between 10am and 4pm on 8th May  to have a chat with the Saint Michaels Hospice team. They are looking for more people to join their team of community and collection volunteers to raise vital funds.

Oatlands
To celebrate The Big Help Out, enjoy a FREE community BBQ at Oatlands Community Centre, find out more about Oatlands Community charity and how you can get involved. As well as a free BBQ, there will be Face painting, Kids Crafts and a Coronation Scavenger Hunt.

Starbeck 
Join the Starbeck Big Help Out and help out with: 

• Washing Street Furniture: benches, bus stops, signs etc
• Weeding, edging, and tidying flower beds, planters etc.
• Litter picking

St Andrew's Church Hall is the hub for the day where you can join a team at 10am or 1pm (or both!), collect equipment and grab a cuppa! Take a picnic and join in a community lunch on Belmont Field. 

Ripon
On 8 May, Ripon BID will be at the Ripon Cathedral Coronation Beer Festival handing out flyers and talking to people about their new Ripon Volunteering Hub. This online hub will focus on one-off and group activities, suitable for employee volunteering, as well as linking to longer term roles, the Volunteering City of Ripon Project and the HADCA Volunteering Directory.  

Knaresborough 
Knaresborough Town Council is hosting a Coronation Outdoor Cinema in the grounds of Knaresborough House on Saturday 6 May.  
There will be community stands, with activities taking place and an opportunity to meet local groups.

Kirkby Malzeard
Join Kirkby in Bloom on Monday 8 May for a village tidy 12 -1pm followed by a cuppa in the Mechanics Institute. 
 

Throughout the district there will be more opportunities to join in community celebrations, watch big screens, listen to music, be entertained, enjoy picnics together and more!  Many of these are listed on our community events calendar

Thank you to everyone who already gives their time and shares their skills and a warm welcome to everyone inspired to get involved by The Big Help Out. 

To find a local volunteering role to match your interests and availability, please take a look at our searchable HADCA Volunteering Directory. With over 150 opportunities listed, there is something for everyone! 

You can also visit The Big Help Out website to find out more about the campaign and other opportunities.