The BBC station is attempting to convince its listeners to donate one million hours of their time
BBC Radio 1 has launched a campaign to get its listeners to commit to one million hours of volunteering over the next year.
The popular station, which targets the under 30 audience, is working with four featured charities Age UK, Barnardo’s, Cancer Research UK and Oxfam to highlight volunteering opportunities.
It, along with the 1Xtra station, will shine a spotlight on all things volunteering in a bid to show the benefits of volunteering for young people.
I want BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra to be a force for good in the UK and magnify all the positive work that young people do for others
Kicked off on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, presenter Nick Grimshaw told listeners he was going to work at a Barnardo’s-run record shop.
Other DJs and staff will be volunteering elsewhere and sharing their stories on air and for its initial push the station be broadcasting a number of documentary specials on volunteering.
Radio 1 and 1Xtra controller Ben Cooper hailed the initiative as the stations’ most ambitious social action programme to date.
He said: “I want BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra to be a force for good in the UK and magnify all the positive work that young people do for others, so we’re very proud to be working alongside some of the most experienced organisations in the country to reach 1 million hours of volunteering.”
As well as pledging hours to the featured charities via a new section on the Radio 1 website, listeners will also be able to pledge their time to good causes on social media using the #1MillionHours hashtag.
By including in their social media post the number of hours that they have been inspired to donate, pledges via Twitter and Instagram will also be counted towards the 1 million hours milestone.
Rebecca Stewart, head of volunteering at Age UK said her charity was delighted to be part of the project.
She added: “As well as supporting older people in their local communities, many of our younger volunteers tell us that they learn so much from volunteering and find it a really valuable life experience.”
Javed Khan, Barnardo’s chief executive, said: “Across every region and nation, the importance of volunteers to Barnardo’s can't be overstated. If you want to make a difference, please give a little of your time and find out just how rewarding volunteering can be.”
Cancer Research UK’s director of trading and volunteer fundraising, Simon Ledsham, said his charity is relying on the incredible support of its volunteers and fundraisers to help beat cancer.
“Any hours people can give us will help us reach that goal sooner,” he said.
Oxfam head of volunteering and engagement, Dan O’Driscoll, added: “We are so grateful to our volunteers, and always need more. By running #1MillionHours, Radio 1 and 1Xtra are shouting from the rooftops that volunteering is a wonderful and rewarding thing to do, both on a personal level and for humankind overall.”
To sign up to Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s #1MillionHours campaign visit bbc.co.uk/radio1.
