Getting involved in random acts of kindness day
02/04/2025
Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated every year on 17th February, with the day dedicated to highlighting and encouraging kind deeds. It is a reminder that small, random acts of kindness can have a significant impact on the lives of others, creating a spirit of generosity and compassion.
Origins of Random Acts of Kindness Day
In 1995, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was founded as a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to inspire people to practice kindness and pass it on to others. The foundation plays a crucial role in spreading awareness about the day and encouraging people to take part in various acts of kindness.
Holding a ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ event
After the King’s Coronation in 2023, the nation was encouraged to volunteer through the ‘Big Help Out. ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’ could be a great way for your organisation to inspire others to get involved in your charity’s activities. You could use this opportunity to show how easy and rewarding it is to do good deeds in the local community.
Below are a few tips on encouraging people to volunteer, donate or spread the word about your charity’s work:
How to get people involved?
- Start small – small actions can make a big difference, and you don’t want your volunteers running the other direction because your expectations are too high. Choose your activities wisely: planting out spring bulbs at your local community garden or even just a tea and cake session to bring the community together.
- Advertise: In the lead up to the day, use social media and the local community to highlight the skills you need. Whether that be how to improve your social media skills or manual labour, telling people what you need help with may resonate with them. Make sure to keep your message clear and outline the tasks you need. Highlight how the volunteers work will support your cause and the impact it will have.
- Partner with local businesses: A lot of companies now promote volunteer days as a perk for working with them. Try collaborating with local businesses to see whether they would partner with you.
Things to remember
- The weather – If your activity is taking place outside, remember to wrap up warm and have a backup plan that takes place indoors in case there’s bad weather. Factor in time for breaks to warm up.
- Risk assessments – Having new volunteers can be exciting but remember that they may not be aware of the activities you do. Factor this into your risk assessment and take time to run through safety procedures with them.
- Safety briefings – Hold briefings at the start and end of your event so everyone is accounted for and aware of what is happening. To see what else to consider when planning an event, read our article.
Continue a good thing
Make sure to thank any new volunteers that join you and aim to keep in touch with them on new activities that you’re doing or skills that you need. Although they may not be able to commit to volunteering regularly, they may know someone within their network that could. Staying connected helps keep interest and encourages volunteers to take the next step.
Depending how the event goes, commit to holding an open day a few times a year for people to try out volunteering at your organisation. Provide information about your charity and offer tours and/or demonstrations to encourage engagement.
The Benefits of Being Kind
Kindness has the power to transform lives and communities. Here are a few ways being kind can be good for your health, both physically and mentally:
Improves Mental Health: Acts of kindness can boost both the giver's and the receiver's mental wellbeing. When we do kind deeds, our brains release feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin, which can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Receiving kindness can provide emotional support and a sense of belonging. Find out more on how kindness matters on the Mental Health Foundation page.
Strengthens Connections: Kindness builds stronger relationships and a sense of community. By showing empathy and compassion, we create bonds of trust and mutual respect. These connections are needed for a supportive society.
Promotes Positivity: Kind acts have a ripple effect, inspiring others. When we see or experience kindness, we are more likely to replicate the behaviour ourselves. This creates a positive cycle that can lead to a more compassionate environment.
Encourages Gratitude: Being kind encourages us to appreciate the good things and recognise the efforts of others. Gratitude is closely linked to happiness and overall life satisfaction, making it an essential aspect of well-being.
Enhances Physical Health: Research has shown that kindness can have physical health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and boosting the immune system. Doing kind acts can also promote a sense of purpose and fulfilment, helping support a healthier lifestyle.
