Big Help Out is a chance to volunteer your time at an event or activity designed to make a positive difference in our local communities.
There's a huge range of activities - you can get involved in everything from environmental clean-ups and tree planting, to arts and crafts and donation drives. What's really great is that you get to meet new people you may have never met if you hadn't all had a desire to do something good.
Whatever it is you choose, you'll be making an important difference to local organisations and charities. These events are great for bringing people together who care about the same thing - making the world a better place!
I had such a great time and it was lovely meeting everyone else there! As someone new to UCL, it was an easy way to make new friends."
A Big Help Out can:
- Help you meet like-minded people who want to hang out while giving back to the community.
- Explore London - It can feel like a really big place - and well, it is. But Big Help Out's are a great way to become familiar with the city, and they provide you a cool story to why you know the area.
- Help you try something new – from conservation at a cathedral to community gardening, volunteering takes you places you might never have discovered otherwise (and it can open new doors).
- Not that it's all about the CV... but it does give it a good boost– you can gain skills and experiences that stand out to future employers when you tell them about the impact you made with a whole group to have a positive impact on the community, outside of your studies.
- Improve your wellbeing – spending time outdoors, working in groups, and doing something meaningful just makes you feel better!
- Give you a real sense of achievement in shaping community – see the impact of your actions, whether it’s a cleaner park, a refreshed green space, or a preserved landmark.
- Earn you recognition – get certificates for your efforts and have your volunteering formally recognised on your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) when you complete 20+ hours.
Get involved with a Big Help Out this term
Our Big Help Out events during Welcome showed just how much can be achieved when students come together. They were about making a difference, meeting new people, and starting the year with purpose. You do not need any prior experience for Big Help Outs, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in.
What's it like going to a Big Help Out?
Big Help Out: St John's Churchyard
During Welcome Week, we headed to St John’s Churchyard in Waterloo, where students rolled up their sleeves for a day of hands-on gardening. Working in small groups, volunteers tidied the space, pulled weeds, and helped prepare the garden for the winter months. .
It wasn’t just about the gardening. Students enjoyed being outdoors, learning new skills, and spending time with others in a relaxed and friendly setting. We love activities like this because they make us all feel part of the community. Plus, being outside gives us all a good bost in feeling better.
Keeping spaces green and clean around campus
Our Welcome Big Help Outs weren’t just about supporting local communities, they were also about taking pride in the spaces we share every day. At Bloomsbury around Gordon Square, students grabbed gloves and bin bags for a community litter pick. It was a simple but great way to give back, helping to keep a much-loved green space clean. Taking part in outdoor group activities not only boosted students’ wellbeing but also created that extra feel-good energy that comes with doing something for a social purpose.
Over at UCL East, another group of students came together to spruce up the planting area between Marshgate and Riverside East. With some weeding, mulching, and planting, the space was refreshed and made ready to bloom.
Both events were a reminder that even small actions, when shared, create a big impact. We feel really proud and so do our students. Thanks to everyone who came!
Conservation at Southwark Cathedral
One of our most unique Big Help Out took place at the stunning Southwark Cathedral, where students got a behind-the-scenes look at how historic buildings are cared for. Students worked alongside a professional conservator to help maintain monuments, tombstones, and pillars. No previous experience was needed - staff and long-standing volunteers guided the group through practical skills that will stay with them well beyond the day. For students interested in conservation, architecture, or simply discovering more about London’s heritage, this was a chance to get hands-on with history.
What's next?
If you’re inspired to try more one-off volunteering opportunities, we’d love to see you at a future Big Help Out - you can check out everything you need to know here.