Izzard & Grey-thompson Launch #bighelpout

Sports volunteering charity, Join In, and BBC Get Inspired have announced a fresh partnership for the launch of the Big Help Out, an initiative aiming to inspire 10,000 new volunteers to help out at local sports clubs, groups and events.

Eddie Izzard, a patron of Join In, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, Britain’s most successful Paralympic athlete and a trustee of Join In, will launch the campaign in July, ahead of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015.

The Big Help Out builds on the success of the inaugural #BigThankYou at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014, which saw thousands of sports stars, clubs, players and organisations from across the UK say thanks to volunteers who dedicate their time to grass roots sport across the UK and helped to build their career in sport.

Rebecca Birkbeck, CEO of Join In commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with the BBC on the #BigHelpOut.  Grass roots sport can’t happen without the volunteers giving up their time to make it happen.  The role of Join In is to share their stories and inspire even more people to get involved.  The ever increasing reach of the BBC Get Inspired website means that we can jointly connect with even more people – enough to have a real impact on sport in local communities across the UK.”

Barbara Slater, BBC director of sport added: “I’m delighted that once again the BBC is partnering with Join In on such a worthwhile initiative. The Get Inspired website now attracts on average 1.2 million views a month with over 350,000 people referred onto partner activities last year alone. We want to use that success to build on 2014’s #BigThankYou campaign and inspire more people to get involved with their local sports communities.”

Eddie Izzard said: “Real heroes don’t wear capes or masks, they’re in the community around us, helping out at local sports clubs and using their super skills to help with fundraising, coaching, social media and everything else it takes. But it’s not just the players that benefit, these local heroes also feel happier and healthier for helping out.”

Join In’s research shows that every volunteer allows 8.5 additional participants to get active and enjoy community sport.

Tanni Grey-Thompson added: “Volunteers have played a vital role in my career, their motivation, dedication and commitment has helped me progress in sport and they continue to help athletes, at every level, to take part in and enjoy sport.”