Big Help Out see volunteers from the south celebrate Coronation

Summary

Volunteers across the south have taken part in community events to mark the final day of the Coronation celebrations
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children joined volunteers to help renovate the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough
Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Take That took to the stage on Sunday evening for the spectacular Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
Beach cleaning, wildflower planting, and litter picking are among some of the events in the south people have helped out with
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh took part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs training centre in Reading
Organisers say volunteering rates dropped during the pandemic and that many charities are in desperate need of help

Live Reporting

Emily Ford and Maria Zaccaro

No (s)more from us tonight!published at 16:14 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Emily Ford
BBC South
Image source, PA Media
What a weekend!
We're all as toasted as these marshmallows Prince Louis tucked into today...so we're off for a lie down as we bring our coverage of the Coronation weekend in the south of England to a close.
Our team at BBC South HQ have loved seeing how you've celebrated - thanks to everyone who got involved by sending in your pictures and messages.
We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of these historic events.
Prince Louis wanted "the biggest brush" for his paintingpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Sam Dixon-French
Reporting from Woodley
Image caption,
Laura helped Prince Louis paint some planters at 3rd Upton Scout Hut today
Some of the volunteers have been sharing what it was like to get "stuck in" with the King's grandchildren at 3rd Upton Scout Hut in Slough today.
Harrison told our reporter Sam Dixon-French they had 30 minutes warning before the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived with their three children to join in with a Big Help Out event today.
He said: "It was amazing, they got stuck in straight away, Louis got paint all over Laura [another volunteer] and all over his hair and Charlotte said he looked like an old grandad because his hair was white.
"They were really relaxed, they said they were tired from the concert - aren't we all."
Image source, PA Media
Volunteer Laura said when she asked Prince Louis what size brush he wanted to use to help paint some platers, the five-year-old exclaimed: "The big one."
Said added: "He proceeded to dunk it into the paint and get involved, paint did go absolutely everywhere but he and Charlotte seemed to realy enjoy that."
Laura said she chatted with the young prince and his sister Princess Charlotte for a while as they worked.
"Louis was telling me how he did painting at school and so did Charlotte, hence them being experts. We spoke about what he wanted to do when he was older, if he wanted to be a painter, but he said was more inclined to be a pilot."
Image source, PA Media
'Guide dogs sensed we had some important visitors today'published at 15:53 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Nick Johnson
Reporting from Reading
Image source, PA Media
Let's hear more about one of the royal visits earlier today in Berkshire where the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh dropped into a Guide Dogs charity branch near Reading.
Mark Gurney, who was previously a firefighter in London, got involved with the charity after he retired and said the group knew they were having an important visitor but they didn't know exactly who.
"I think it was brilliant, it wasn't expected. It was an amazing surprise."
Mark's dog Holly was on her best behaviour as she and other pups were put through their paces and trying their best to avoid distractions.
"The Guide Dog training programme is really structured.
"I think even Holly sensed we had some VIPs."
Image source, PA Media
Scout group leader reacts to royal visitpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Sam Dixon-French
Reporting from Slough
Media caption,
Scout group leader Mark Ashworth reacts to Prince and Princess of Wales family visit
One of the team running 3rd Upton Scouts has reacted to the visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales today.
Mark Ashworth has been coordinating a volunteer day at the scout hut in Slough as part of the Coronation Big Help Out event.
Brass band performs for Big Help Out fundraising eventpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Kate Eagleton-Etheridge
Reporting from Southampton
This group has taken a musical approach to the Big Help Out event today.
Woolston Community Centre hosted a fundraising event for Communicare, a volunteer befriending service in Southampton, as well as for The Shore School.
HAMWIC brass band took their performance indoors after a spot of rain and performed for more than 70 people.
Our reporter Kate Eagleton-Etheridge said her favourite tunes played so far include the national anthem and Bring Me Sunshine.
'Plenty of people want to get involved in the future'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
It’s been “a great day volunteering” at the heritage Cholsey and Wallingford Railway in Oxfordshire, Mark Savery tells the BBC.
Mark, who is running the ticket office, says they have had "lots of paying passengers today and plenty of people looking at getting involved in the future as we improve the station."
Mark says the original station was knocked down in the 1960s when the line was closed.
The railway is now entirely run by volunteers who have roles including running the trains, keeping the station today and selling tickets and refreshments.
Image source, Mark Savery
Unicorn made of waste materials unveiled in honour of King Charles IIIpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Anna Gray
Reporting from Kidlington
We mentioned the work Cherwell Collective is doing in Oxfordshire to reduce waste consumption earlier today.
They've now officially unveiled the unicorn statue they made out of waste materials as a tribute to King Charles III for the Big Help Out event.
The organisation hosted a litter picking event with volunteers ahead of the unveiling, which programme manager, SJ, said was important for woodland in Kidlington.
She said: "There's a lack of space for people to do things in public for free, so we do see people having a nice time in the woods and then there's no sufficient facilities for clearing up after themselves - it is a problem and impacts the local wildlife."
After litter picking the group returned to Park Hill recreation ground to see the finished unicorn statue, which will be a permanent fixture in the park, which SJ says will be "a nice way for the community to remember the legacy of this coronation period."
Image caption,
SJ, Cherwell Collective prgramme manager
Quote Message
It's a good day to get everyone together because people are united by the issue of waste and consumption. We've made this sculpture entirely out of things that look like fly-tipping basically, so half an old sofa and insulation and building rubble and things. We've put that all together as a sculpture of a unicorn to show that our waste, which is permanent and damaging for the environment, can be something beautiful.
SJ, Cherwell Collective programme manager
Watch guide dogs greet Duke and Duchess of Edinburghpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Media caption,
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visit guide dogs for training session
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have spent time with the Guide Dogs charity for the Big Help Out today.
They visited volunteers in Reading to give Labrador retriever puppies a short training session and find out more about the work the charity does.
Hospice outlet taster sessionspublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Charlotte Foot
Reporting from Dorchester
Our reporter Charlotte Foot has visited the Weldmar Hospice Care outlet in Dorchester.
The hospice's stores in Dorchester, Blanford and Sherborne are all hosting a volunteer taster day.
Staff are encouraging people to come along for a taster session to see what volunteering in the store involves as part of the Coronation Big Help Out event.
Charlotte told us people have been able to come along for a couple of hours to try out different tasks.
Volunteers gather at country park for spot of gardeningpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Emily Hudson
Reporting from Havant
Volunteers are helping with some gardening at Staunton Country Park.
The group has come together for a Big Help Out event in Storey Garden at the Havant park.
Community comes together to renovate village hallpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Jo Palmer
Reporter, BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent's Jo Palmer has met up with a group of volunteers working to help renovate Sherfield Village Hall.
She told us: "Like many other rural areas, the village hall is the only community place that groups can meet.
"Everything from baby groups and exercise classes, through to the vegetable growing society meet here."
Christchurch Priory holding volunteers daypublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Steve Harris
Reporting from Christchurch
Christchurch Priory is getting involved with the Coronation Big Help Out by hosting a volunteer's day.
The venue has an indoor fair for people to meet local organisations and charities - with the hope some decide to sign up to help.
Among the volunteer groups are Christchurch Cadets, Christchurch U3A and the Priory itself which relies on volunteers to run parts of the venue.
The event will be running until 16:00 BST.
Watch: Prince Louis drives digger with dadpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been joining the Big Help Out with their three children.
Read More
Nurse describes "electric" Coronation concertpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Michelle Beaver attended the concert with her husband Peter last night
A nurse invited to the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle has spoken fondly of how everyone was "singing along" and cheering for the Prince of Wales when he gave his speech for the King.
Michelle Beaver, 51, and her husband Peter, 55, travelled to Windsor to attend Sunday's concert, donning red T-shirts adorned with the words "Queen" and "King" respectively, and holding flags given to them by volunteers.
Quote Message
The atmosphere was electric and everyone was so chatty, sharing where they travelled from to get here and it was such an honour to have been chosen as a coronation champion. Nicole Scherzinger's voice was absolutely amazing and I loved Lang Lang on the piano. Take That was also great as they got the crowd going loads and everyone was singing along.
Michelle Beaver, Coronation Champion
Image source, PA Media
Mrs Beaver was invited after being chosen as a coronation champion for volunteering with and fundraising for the Marie Curie Hospice in Liverpool for more than 10 years.
The coronation champion programme rewards extraordinary volunteers across the country who have contributed to their communities.
The cardiology nurse at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital said: "We had a better view than I realised we would have - we were near the front, which was amazing."
She said the cheers for Prince William when he gave his speech were "just lovely" and walking up to Windsor Castle for the concert was "impressive".
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Mrs Beaver (taking a picture of the then Prince of Wales) attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2019, she described the new King as "extremely charming"
Volunteer fair at town hall in East Cowespublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Volunteer groups have come together in the town hall in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Organisations are hosting stalls where people can find out more about opportunities to get involved.
And of course a Coronation event wouldn't be complete without music and cake!
Bench painting is a hit across Dorset today!published at 13:46 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Charlotte Foot
Reporting from across Dorset
Our reporter Charlotte Foot is with another group of volunteers painting benches.
This group is lending a hand at a maintenance day being hosted by the Dorset end-of-life care charity Weldmar Hospicecare at their in-patient unit in Dorchester.
She said they’ve also had to bring the outdoors in because of the rain by moving benches underneath a marquee so things can be sanded and wood stained.
But we hear a couple of volunteers are braving the rain by doing some weeding too.
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh put guide dogs through their pacespublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Nick Johnson
Reporting from Reading
Image caption,
Prince Edward was commended by one dog trainer
Much like the rest of the country, the charity Guide Dogs here in Berkshire is adorned in union jacks and all things red, white and blue.
Today in their pop-up Coronation Cafe in Reading, trainee Labrador retrievers were being put through their paces - this time with some royal guests.
I watched as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attempted to put branded harnesses on the dogs, with Prince Edward saying: “Sorry, I don’t have any treats”.
His next challenge - how to encourage the puppies to restrain themselves from launching themselves at a union-flagged, cardboard London bus displaying an array of treats.
Prince Edward nervously escorted Sunny encouraging her not to go for the treats - which ended in success.
“Full marks”, one of the trainers declared!
Image caption,
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh gives a dog a treat
Girl Guiding event to encourage more people to joinpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Hannah Walsh
Reporting from Southampton
The Girl Guides are out in Southampton Guildhall square to give people a taste of what they do.
There are activities for everyone including CPR training, marshmallow toasting, rock painting and even circus skills.
They’re hoping the event will encourage people to think about joining as a volunteer or just come and have a chat to see what opportunities are available.
Come on mum, it's easy!published at 13:24 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Emily Ford
BBC News
Image source, PA Media
Prince Louis has roped his mother, the Princess of Wales and sister, Princess Charlotte into some wheelbarrow action now.
The trio are helping volunteers with renovations at a Scout hut in Slough by doing some digging outside.
Looks like the five-year-old prince is showing everyone how it's done.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Prince William, give us a hand?published at 13:17 British Summer Time 8 May 2023
Emily Ford
BBC News
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
And the Big Help Out continues for the Prince of Wales and his children.
They've headed inside to add their painted hand prints to the wall, as part of ongoing renovations to the 3rd Upton Scout Hut in Slough.
Prince Louis and Prince George followed suit by adding their prints to the collection too.
Image source, PA Media