Animal charity in Cambridgeshire sees increase in demand during cost-of-living crisis
Figures show a third of adults have turned to charities for help
Last updated 8th May 2023
The celebrations for the Coronation of King Charles the third continue today with more than 52-thousand volunteering events are taking place across the UK.
The Big Help Out which encourages us to volunteer in our local community.
Greatest Hits spoke with Emma Martin who volunteers at an RSPCA charity shop in March, Cambridgeshire. She told us that the shop has noted more people coming into the shop over the past year due to the cost-of-living crisis.
She also notes that there has been a decline in donations:
“People are buying more second-hand clothes now so that is why we have noticed a decline in high quality items.”
“People find charity shops more friendly, more personable and they are at the heart of the community.”
With many struggling to contribute to donations due to the cost-of-living Emma has this advice for charities struggling with donations:
“If they don’t feel appreciated or their donations appreciated, they won’t go back. It’s important for a charity shop to make customers feel valued for everything they are donating.”
The Big Help Out day is organised by The Together Coalition and partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the United Kingdom.
It will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities and will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves to create a legacy.
The public have been encouraged to take up hundreds of thousands of volunteering roles on the extra bank holiday with more than 1,500 charities involved.
An app has been created to allow people to search for volunteering opportunities, ranging from helping the elderly to working with environmental charities and supporting animal welfare.
It’s thought that The King and Queen will not be appearing publicly today for the Big Help Out, which is billed as a lasting volunteering legacy to mark Charles's crowning.
There will be other royals out and about with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visiting the Coptic Orthodox Church in London where young volunteers will be hosting a coronation street party.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will take part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre in Reading.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "While wholly supportive of the Big Help Out initiatives taking place right across Britain on Monday May 7, (the King and Queen) will not be attending any events in-person.
"These will instead be attended by other members of the royal family."
Camilla is patron of the Royal Voluntary Service charity and has been patron of the Big Lunch initiative since 2013.
The extra bank holiday, which will take place across the UK, caps off a long weekend of celebrations.