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UCL 200: The Biggest Help Out
Be part of something big. Really big.
Join us on Tuesday 2 June at 9:00am at the UCL Portico for the first ever UCL 200: The Biggest Help Out, a mass volunteering event bringing together 200 students for one incredible day of impact as part of the UCL Summer Festival.
This is your chance to give back, meet new people, and be part of one of UCL’s largest ever volunteering events.
You’ll start your day on campus before heading out in groups to a range of partner organisations across London. Each organisation will host large groups of students, where you’ll take part in meaningful, hands-on volunteering activities that directly support local communities.
Open to all UCL students, faculty and staff
🎉 Why you should join
Be part of a 200-person volunteering movement
Support your local community and make a real impact
Meet like-minded students and make new friends
Try something new and step outside your comfort zone
Be part of the UCL 200 celebrations
To support your involvement, travel expenses will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided
☕ What’s included
We’ve got you covered throughout the day:
- Free breakfast on arrival (supported by a social enterprise)
- Lunch and travel expenses covered
- UCL 200 giveaways and merch (including tote bags)
- The chance to win exciting prizes
📸 Be part of the moment
We’ll be capturing a once-in-a-lifetime group photo with all 200 volunteers at the UCL Portico before we head out.
👉 Arrive early to:
- Secure your spot in the group photo
- Be part of the full event experience
- Get settled before group allocations
🗓️ Structure of the Day
The day will begin at the UCL Quad, where all participants will check in, enjoy a free breakfast, and collect their goody bag. Once everyone is ready, groups will travel together to their allocated locations across London to begin their volunteering activities. Volunteers will be placed in groups for the day and remain with their allocated activity throughout.
🌱 Example volunteering opportunities
Below are examples of the types of activities you may take part in. Final allocations are yet to be confirmed.
Canal Clean-Up
Join us for a hands-on environmental volunteering experience helping to clean London’s canals from the water. Working in small groups, you’ll head out on stable, beginner-friendly boats to collect litter and support vital conservation efforts in local waterways.
Sessions will take place at Poplar Union, with all equipment provided. Just wear comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activity and be prepared to get involved!
River Restoration
Get involved in a meaningful environmental volunteering session helping to restore and improve one of London’s green spaces. Working alongside the team at Thames21, you’ll take part in practical conservation activities such as planting and vegetation management along the river.
This is a great opportunity to contribute to the health of local ecosystems, learn more about urban environmental work, and make a visible impact in a short space of time.
Park Clean-Up & Gardening
Get involved in a hands-on environmental volunteering session focused on improving local parks and green spaces. Activities may include gardening, planting, and general clean-up, helping to create cleaner, greener, and more welcoming spaces for the community.
Adventure Playground Project
Support one of London’s adventure playgrounds, which are unique spaces where children can explore, create, and learn through play. You’ll take part in practical tasks such as maintenance, repairs, and general improvements, helping to keep these spaces safe, engaging, and accessible.
This is a great opportunity to contribute to a meaningful community project that supports children, families, and local neighbourhoods.
Sign up now
Be part of something meaningful and give back to the community and get involved in the first ever mass participation volunteering event at UCL.
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive a follow-up email with all the key information, along with a short webform where you can share your volunteering preferences.
Go big. Help out. Make a difference.