Scouts support Royal Coronation & Big Help Out
Scouts were actively involved in supporting the Coronation of HM King Charles III and were key to the development and celebrations of the subsequent nationwide volunteering effort, The Big Help Out, to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.
On the coronation day itself on 6 May, Scouts and volunteers — who had travelled from all corners of the UK and the Commonwealth to do their duty for the King and take part in this momentous occasion— were responsible for stewarding the VIP arrivals at Westminster Abbey and supporting those invited to celebrate with the King. Others helped manage huge crowds around central London, such as by the big screens in St James Park, Hyde Park, Green Park and around Admiralty Arch.
Fifty young Scouts also attended the coronation event at St Margaret’s church, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, and were able to witness the historic moment taking place.
The Big Help Out
Two days later, Scouts were again at the forefront of the celebrations, leading the Big Help Out — a national day of volunteering happening on 8 May, the Bank Holiday Monday of the Coronation weekend.
Developed by Scouts and the Royal Voluntary Service and supported by some of the UK’s biggest volunteer organisations, this was a day to inspire a new generation of community volunteering.
In tribute to His Majesty The King's public service, The Big Help Out encouraged people to join in volunteering initiatives underway in their local community, aiming to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.
The day saw 6 million people join in volunteering activities across the UK according to a Walnut Omnibus poll conducted 5–8 May!
And one Scout group, 3rd Upton, even had five extra pairs of helping hands when the TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, came along to volunteer with them. The Princess has been Joint President of the UK Scouts since 2020 and this was Prince Louis' first royal engagement!
A Royal Visit to 3rd Upton Scouts
Not only did 3rd Upton have ‘all Scout hands-on deck’ to renovate their meeting place as part of The Big Help Out, they were over the moon to be joined by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Princess of Wales, Joint President of Scouts, as well as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The local Scout meeting place was built in 1982 and needed a few improvements. It’s a building with a special place in the community’s heart, as it’s also used by the local mosque, a senior citizens' contact group for members of the Asian community and by ‘Slough All Nations’, a group providing much-needed recreation and leisure activities to improve health and well-being and promote community cohesion.
The Royal family visited the group to volunteer for the Big Help Out and got involved with all sorts of building work! Together, they helped with resetting a path, digging a new soakaway, sanding, and re-varnishing the front door, and adding planters to the front of the building. Inside, they replaced the carpet and fixed a mural to create a lasting legacy of the fantastic Big Help Out initiative, and everyone got their own #TheBigHelpOut badge.
Scouts across the United Kingdom were involved in numerous activities, running exciting events and helping to create a lasting volunteer legacy from the Coronation weekend, reminding us of the brilliant impact that Scouts have when they come together.
Watch the video of the UK Scouts' best bits from the Coronation and Big Help Out.
Content creation thanks to The Scout Association, UK and The European Scout Region
Photo credits: The Scout Association, UK