Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lent a hand at the Royal Voluntary Service Mill End Lunch Club in Rickmansworth today as part of The Big Help Out, on the third and final day of the Coronation celebrations. He donned an apron for kitchen duties and also chatted to the regular diners at the popular club which dishes up lunch for elderly locals Monday-Friday each week.

Royal Voluntary Service is one of the charities leading The Big Help Out initiative which encourages newcomers to give volunteering a try.

Labour leader, Keir Starmer telephoned 94 year old Mina Pegram for a ‘Coronation Call’. Friendly phone calls from volunteers can make a big difference for those living alone. Royal Voluntary Service runs the NHS Volunteer Responders Programme for NHS England with GoodSAM and The Big Help Out invites new volunteers to sign up as Check In and Chat Volunteers and make Coronation Calls.

View images from the day

Other Big Help Out highlights in the Royal Voluntary Service programme included a Coronation party for 100 at the Royal Voluntary Service club in Rye where volunteers helped arrange bingo, singing and lunch and the Cornhill Centre in Banbury where a packed community day included the chance for volunteers and club-attendees to have a go at indoor archery.

For further information

Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people in the community. The charity delivers the Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England, enabled by the GoodSAM app, with volunteers responding to over 2.2 million requests for help and supporting with over 300,000 shifts at vaccination sites.

The charity also works in local communities running home libraries, companionship support, Home from Hospital services and patient transport. Our Virtual Village Hall provides online activities and classes to promote wellbeing and keep people active.

To become a local volunteer search for volunteering opportunities in your area. Or help make a difference by making a secure online donation.

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