Earlier this month, TCV kicked off The Big Help Out in Northern Ireland. Radio 1 star Dean McCullough returned to his hometown of Belfast to visit The BUG, Belfast Urban Garden, Kent Street, which opened last week with the TCV Belfast team, to help raise awareness of the upcoming Big Help Out events. Dean jumped right in with a number of conservation activities including planting several key plants whilst speaking with TCV volunteers and representatives from other organisations.
The Big Help Out Northern Ireland will be back in June, with support from Volunteer Now, The Conservation Volunteers and a wide range of local organisations putting volunteering top of their agenda.
The Big Help Out will take place over three days from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June and is the culmination of Volunteers’ Week, a week long celebration of the work of volunteers. The Big Help Out will invite the public to lend a hand for causes across Northern Ireland that need support in the hope that they will feel the benefits of volunteering.
Dean McCullough said:
‘The Big Help Out is becoming a really brilliant tradition. It’s a great way to give volunteering a try for an hour a day or a weekend – doing something you care about at a time and place that’s convenient for you.
We all know that volunteering – whether it’s food banks, kids’ football, or local litter picks – can make a huge difference to the communities we live in, but it can also have a fantastic impact on the person who volunteers too.
“Volunteering is great for your mental health, it can boost feelings of self-worth and it’s a brilliant way of meeting people too. So on June 7-9 why not get involved – it could be the best thing you do all year.’
Research shows the huge positive impact volunteering can make – not just from the community benefits, but for the volunteers themselves, including a link between volunteering and overall life-satisfaction, feelings of being effective and in control (Wellbeing and Engagement in Culture, Arts, Heritage and Sport by Adults in Northern Ireland 2022/23).
Across Northern Ireland, almost 100k people took part in last year’s Big Help Out – getting together to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. And in Northern Ireland 71% of those who participated in The Big Help Out last year reported this event made it easier for them to meet new people and made their local areas feel more united.
TCV Belfast are holding a Big Help Out event on Friday 7th June at The BUG, Belfast Urban Garden, Kent Street. They are calling on the public to join them on this ‘grey to green’ site, planting a range of seasonal vegetables in the community garden and a sunflower seed for people to take home. This event is open to all people/organisations already lending a hand in urban garden projects as well as those new to urban gardening.
Dave Morton, Assistant Director, Northern Ireland, The Conservation Volunteers said:
“The BUG is such a fantastic resource for Belfast! This little urban gem offers individuals, groups and businesses from our neighbouring communities the opportunity to engage with a city garden, and come away feeling the wonderful benefits of being active and connected to nature.
The BUG is all about connections. From learning new skills to meeting new people, we encourage anyone to get in touch and get involved here on Kent Street, or with a site or project being delivered by one of our many greenspace and community growing partners across the City!”
Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Ryan Murphy said:
“I’m really pleased to see our new urban garden, The BUG, hosting a Big Help out event on Friday 7 June on a section of the Belfast Stories site. “We’ve made a commitment in our community plan, The Belfast Agenda, to place wellbeing at the heart of our city and to help enhance mental health. And there’s so much research pointing to the positive impacts that both volunteering and gardening can have for us as individuals, and as communities, so I’d really encourage residents to get involved with the Big Help Out this year. You’ll feel great – and you’ll be helping to make your city an even better place to live!”