The Mirror is on a mission to highlight kind-hearted Brits' acts of kindness during tough times in the pandemic.
Many have gone above and beyond to help others in a difficult time, out of the goodness of their own hearts.
They have been the UK's unsung heroes, but today The Mirror is going to honour all 1000 - and recognise there are endless kind acts which go unreported.
Our unsung heroes are volunteers, charity workers, fundraisers, carers, community workers, people who have helped in food banks and run youth clubs.
Some have worked in a group, some have worked alone, but these people make the UK a more hopeful place.
Read more of our inspiring 1,000 Acts of Kindness stories here to see the incredible kindness of people up and down the country
Band of builders transform paralysed dad's home
When widowed dad-of-four Rob Lamb, 58, was left paralysed after a fall at home in October 2020 a national charity came to the rescue.
Thanks to Band of Builders, Rob’s Solihull home was given a full renovation to make it accessible for him when he returned from rehab in March 2021.
Over the course of only nine days, a group of 60 volunteer tradespeople added a wet room, a downstairs bedroom and landscaped the garden of Rob’s Solihull home.
Rob, a quantity surveyor, couldn’t believe the charity’s generosity: “At one point I thought I would have to go into a care home temporarily, so to be able to come back to our own home and for it to have everything I need really means the world.
“For so many strangers to give up their time to do this for me is amazing. It’s great to know there are good people out there who do things to help people like this.”
A charity run by tradespeople, for tradespeople, Band of Builders was set up in 2016 to help people in their hour of need.
This involves providing building work to family homes struck my injury or illness.
The charity also provides advice, support and a general sense of community for construction workers.
The builders involved in the projects volunteer to give up their time and money to help others in their industry. They also step in to complete jobs other tradespeople can’t finish because of injury or illness.
Gavin Crane, Chair of Trustees at Band of Builders, said: “There are so many reasons why it’s important to support tradespeople - and now more than ever. The construction sector is unique in many ways, with many tradespeople self-employed, meaning that when something goes wrong - either illness or injury - it can have a catastrophic effect.
“Tradespeople are also notoriously poor at asking for help or accepting it, and we’re trying to change that, showing them that when the chips are down, their fellow traders will move heaven and earth to help.”
Although the past year has been difficult for charities, the volunteers at Band of Builders haven’t let the pandemic stop them supporting tradespeople across the country.
The charity has been involved in numerous projects over the past five years, and is always on the lookout for the next tradesperson to help.
Gavin said: “We’re always looking at how we can grow and provide even more support to the construction industry, when the tradespeople in it need us most.”
Kindness of a determined coach
When the pandemic struck gymnastics teacher Kristina Ondon White was determined to still coach her students.
“I never imagined that rhythmic gymnastics could be online. But we worked online every single day.
“Of course we couldn't throw clubs or do rebounds. But we worked with their arms which will help them to make better throws in the future,” she said.
To keep her students motivated, Kristina asked high level gymnasts to join their training sessions, and made crochet dolls for students who completed challenges.
She stressed that she had a fantastic team of coaches and parents behind her, who supported her when she fell ill with Covid-19.
“I was in bed and couldn't move. My coaches covered me without question. The parents of my gymnasts brought me fruit and candies. It was so, so nice.
Moscow-born Kristina , 42, who runs London Sport Academy trained as a gymnast from the age of four and competed in national and international competitions before becoming a dedicated coach.
She said: “It's a passion and a lifestyle, I think. You have to love it. You can't just come to the gym and spend three or four hours with the children and just go home.”
Anyone who wants to can join her gyms and have a go at gymnastics.
“In Russia we would choose children who have natural potential. But I said to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s the correct way’. I try to give a chance to everyone, even if you’re 40 years old!
“You're not going to go for international level competitions, but you have the chance to feel like a queen.”
Kindness of struggling shop owners
Like many shop owners Lucy and Paul Hull were forced to close their premises because of Covid.
But that did not stop them from giving back to the local community.
They have raised more than £10,000 for charity this year by collaborating with local artists.
Lucy and Paul opened their For the Love of the North gift shop in Whitley Bay in 2017 and sell a range of products including cards, souvenirs and prints.
In March 2020, they created an exclusive series of North East inspired prints in collaboration with local artists, with 25% of each sale going to Northumbria NHS Trust’s Bright Charity.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have raised over £10,000. When we first launched the charity prints in March 2020, we had no idea we’d raise so much,” Paul, 45, said.
Lucy, 42, agreed raising such a huge sum has been a surprise.
“We are so grateful to everyone who helped us reach this donation. It really is a testament to the wonderful local community coming together for such a great cause.”
“We chose to work with our local NHS charity to honour the incredible work that NHS employees do every day, but particularly since the onset of the pandemic,” Paul said.
One of the artists who collaborated with For the Love of the North is graphic designer and illustrator Lisa Kirkbride from Whitley Bay.
Lisa was approached by Lucy and Paul to create a print using landmarks from Whitley Bay, with rainbow colours as a symbol of support and solidarity to NHS workers.
“Lucy and Paul are very passionate about championing the north east, supporting local artists and the community,” Lisa said.
“I'm really proud and grateful to have played a part in raising such a huge amount of money.
The community spirit and support Lucy and Paul evoked was amazing.”
Close-knit kindness
Jill Bradley has been making sure her local community in Newcastle really is close knit.
To brighten up the area, Jill, 48, has been decorating local objects with her unique crochet creations.
Her latest design was a green post box topper embellished with bees and flowers which she placed on a post box in Cochrane Park, Heaton.
Jill said: “I probably spent 20 or 30 hours making the topper in total. I really didn’t know what to expect with regard to people’s reactions.
“Seeing that it made people smile made me so happy.”
Jill was inspired by the ‘Random Acts of Crochet Kindness’ Facebook group.
The group has over 34,000 members and welcomes anyone who wants to share kindness with their crochet skills.
In the group, members can share tips and new ways to spread crochet kindness, such as donating
crocheted items to hospitals, or leaving them for members of the public to find in local parks.
“In my opinion, mine is pretty basic compared to the masterpieces on there. There are some seriously talented people,” Jill said.
“I wanted to raise people’s spirits, even if only a little. I’m already planning what to make next,
possibly a seaside theme for the summer holiday period.”
Heaton resident Ana Millen, 24, said Jill’s crocheted post box topper has brightened up her
neighbourhood.
“It’s just such a lovely idea, and I think after a tricky year we all need these simple
things to cheer us up.
“As soon as I saw it, I took a picture on my phone and sent it to my friends and family. It’s nice that
such a small thing can really bring the community together.”
Budding comedian raises money telling jokes
Budding comedian Otis King had a cracking idea to raise money for his local homeless shelter.
The eight-year-old from Hackney, East London, wrote and published his own joke book.
And so far the sales of gag-packed volume have raised £1,687 for Hackney Winter Night Shelter, which works to rebuild lives and provide warmth and shelter.
“I don’t like that some people have to sleep on the street. Everyone deserves a place to call
home,” Otis said,
“I like helping other people, and it was fun thinking up my own jokes too.”
Ed King, Otis’ dad, is extremely proud of his son’s dedication to fundraising: “Otis has
a big heart and always has so many questions on issues, from homelessness to
sustainability and climate change.
“We've tried to talk to our children openly and frankly about some of the issues affecting our
local community, without trying to sugar-coat things too much. It's important to have these
honest conversations, because often they'll want to do something to help - no matter how
small.”
Otis hopes his jokebook makes people smile, and was keen to share his favourite joke from
his book: “Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because it was stuffed!”
Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift among dozens of stars who helped in lockdown
Celebrities have gone above and beyond to perform their own acts of kindness throughout the pandemic.
The stars have swapped the glamour of the red carpet for all sorts of jobs including delivering food, volunteering at vaccine clients and raising money for the NHS.
We take a look at some of the famous names who have been a force for good in the face of the global pandemic.
Damian Lewis and his late wife, Helen McCrory along with Matt Lucas and the CEO of Leon, John Vincent united as a team to raise a whooping £1.5m for NHS staff.
The Billions star explained: “We raised over one and a half million pounds by the end of it and we sent 40,000 meals a day to 100 different hospitals across the UK.
"It had started just with a conversation with a pal. The four us clubbed together to try to raise money. And we're very proud actually.”
James McAvoy donated £275,000 to Masks for NHS Heroes saying "NHS staff are heroes, we must do all that we can to protect them, support them and thank them.”
More COVID kindness
Gary and Paula McNeil, the owners of Pool in Wharfedale Post Office have organised deliveries around the village. Their children have also helped by carrying boxes to cars for pensioners.
Lesley Speedie, 38, founder and chair of the Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Resilience Group that has provided essential services to the local community during Covid-19.
Dabirul Islam Chowdhury, 101, from St Albans who was inspired by Capt Sir Tom Moore and has now raised more than £420,000 for the NHS, the most disadvantaged in the UK and Bangladesh.
Also inspired by Sir Tom was five-year-old George Quigley from Hemel Hempstead who ran 1,000 laps around his garden in Chaulden to raise more than £1,000 for the NHS.
Caring neighbour delivering fresh flowers every week
Caring Carol Lindsay has been delivering fresh flowers to her neighbours every week since the start of the pandemic.
When Mary and John Hilton, both 77, were forced to isolate, she popped a note through their door offering to do their shopping.
And after Mary mentioned how much she missed having flowers in her home,
Carol, 51, had an idea.
She said: “We had a chat at the beginning of lockdown last year and I just said ‘what are you missing the most’.
“Mary said apart from seeing their family, she missed having fresh flowers,
because they could not go shopping.”
Carol added: “Everybody likes fresh flowers don’t they. So every week I just used to buy her a bunch of flowers from Aldi and pop them on her doorstep with a text saying ‘flower drop’. "
The modest mum of two said: “It has continued and I do it every week, that’s all it is.”
Boy, 13, helps to save vital charity on the brink of collapse
A 13-year-old boy has helped to save a vital charity on the brink of collapse after raising almost £250,000.
The Calvert Lakes outdoor activity centre in Cumbria has re-opened thanks to the efforts of Oliver Voysey, from Newcastle.
Oliver's themed fundraising in the run-up to his 13th birthday included walking on a treadmill for 13 minutes, standing independently for 13 seconds, and completing a 13-minute walk.
And his family paid tribute to 'Oliver's army', the friends and loved ones who supported their son in his remarkable fundraising campaign.
The youngster requires specialist care having suffered a brain injury when he was two days old which left him with sight loss, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and learning difficulties.
The trust offers outdoor adventure breaks for adults and children with physical and learning difficulties.
Two-thirds of its operating costs are covered through income from residential trips which were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The remaining £500,000 must be raised every year through charitable donations.
The charity said a total of £730,000 had now secured its "immediate future".
Chair of the trust Giles Mounsey-Heysham said: "We are all looking forward to welcoming guests back."
Those helping to provide people with a hot meal
Maureen Armstrong leads 225 volunteers at the People's Kitchen in Newcastle which offers food and friendship to the homeless.
Kiran Chihal who runs Made Up Kitchen, an organisation supported by a London Community Foundation Grant. providing weekly cooked food packages and bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to the local Hackney community.
Chorlton Bike Deliveries who have delivered free cooked meals for vulnerable people in Whalley Range and Moss Side, Manchester.
Manchester Mind's Good Mood/Food Team who have turned food donations from Fairshare into hundreds of portions of tasty and nutritious home cooked meals, operating from Manchesters Windrush centre.
Boy who started sleeping in tent after friend died still outside 452 days later
At 8pm each night, 11-year-old Max Woosey puts on his pyjamas, collects up his teddies, his Beanos and his torch, says goodnight to his parents and makes his way to the garden.
Because it is here in a tent he sleeps, every single night, and has done now come sub-zero frosts, heatwaves, and even Storm Bella, for 452 nights and counting...
What started out as part boyish adventure, part wish to do good, has become the most astonishing act of kindness and dogged determination to make a difference.
Most of us remember Max’s incredible initial fundraising act, which began in March 2020, when the schoolboy from Braunton, Devon, decided he would raise £100 for his local North Devon Hospice by sleeping outside in the tent given to him by a dear family friend, Rick Abbott, who was able to die at home thanks to care from the hospice the month before.
Rick, 70, who had cancer, told him to “have an adventure” in the tent. Max decided to sleep in it for a year and raise money for the hospice in return, would be just that.
But after the celebrations surrounding his remarkable achievement died down on March 29th, after inspiring 1,000 other children to take part in a Big Camp Out, he is still refusing to sleep indoors.
And he has raised £640,000 to date for the hospice, which thanks to him has avoided making nurses redundant despite the crushing effects of the pandemic.
Heroes of the pandemic helping those in need
Arron Bevan-John, nominated by Debbie Lane.
Arron has helped raise £150,000 for a counselling charity in Swansea, South Wales.
The Special Police Sergeant is also involved in raising money and delivering food parcels to those most in need.
For the last 11 years John Mcgall has dedicated his time voluntarily to help improve the lives of the homeless, disabled and less fortunate people in York
Connie, a drama student based in Manchester, runs free sign language classes.
Smithy's bereavement group is a group of volunteers who have knitted blankets, cardigans and hats for the neonatal unit at North Manchester General Hospital.
Maths teacher helps raise 12,000 to support young black and ethnic minority students
Lucy Hearn set up Tin On A Wall Campaign in North Tyneside which has collected supplies for a local foodbank.
Kirsty Preston, nominated by Birmingham Food Cycle, has logged 1,687 volunteer hours in less than a year while holding down a job as a full-time teacher.
Kirsty has got up at 5.30am to visit Birmingham Wholesale Markets at the weekend for supplies.
Maths teacher, Divanio Crooks from Lewisham College for eight years, helped raise £120,00 during the pandemic to support young black and ethnic minority students.
Graeme and Julie Wright set up a support group of 4x4 drivers in Warwickshire to transport medical staff around in adverse weather conditions.
Graeme's wife Julie runs the call centre and has been coordinating the team to run safely during the pandemic
Also thanks to...
Sam Davies, Chris Rand and Rebecca Jones for their voluntary work in Cambridgeshire during lockdown.
Retired housing officer Chris Beal, 68, from Swanton Morley, for volunteering at Norwich's mass vaccination centre.
Highcrest Academy pupils who sent poems, pictures and letters to elderly residents at The Swarthmore Care Home in Gerrards Cross when they could not have visitors during the pandemic.
Thank you to...
Sophie Pennington, 10, Ronnie Wilson, 5, and Oscar Guo, 7, who wrote short stories for Hardwick Grange Retirement Living in Preston.
Professional singer Anna Reay, from Newcastle who released a musical video montage every Thursday to say thank you to the NHS and did doorstep gigs for people who were shielding.
Jill Bradley who has been crocheting unique hat covers to put on post boxes around Newcastle, part of a wider crochet acts of kindness project.
Small acts of kindness that make a big difference
The Mirror would like to recognise the following people:
Dawn Derravan and Tara Hollaway from Risca, South Wales, for doing the shopping, prescription runs, small errands and making ‘kindness calls’ for people who were shielding or self-isolating during the initial coronavirus pandemic.
Martin Norman for his voluntary work for Welwyn Garden City's Covid Mutual Aid Group.
Riley Rivett, from Pendeen near Penzance, who during lockdown picked up and delivered groceries to the elderly and housebound neighbours.
74-year-old man becomes internet sensation after videos of skipping exercise regime
Rajinder Singh's skipping exercise regime became a viral hit online.
The 74-year-old started posting videos of his daily work out in his allotment to inspire others to keep fit.
They quickly became an internet sensation, attracting thousands of viewers.
Rajinder, 74, from Hillingdon, London, says he enjoys skipping because “it’s an exercise you can do when there is a lockdown and you can do it inside the house or outside in the garden, or anywhere”.
In October, Rajinder plans to run the London Marathon to raise money for the disabilities charity Mencap.
A scheme which has become a life-saving force for Birmingham’s Caribbean community
On a mission to prevent the elderly from being forgotten about during the pandemic, the volunteers of the Soup and Dumplings scheme have become a life-saving force for Birmingham’s Caribbean community.
They provide weekly hot meals on the doorstep for more than 70 vulnerable and elderly people in the city.
Soup and Dumplings was the brainchild of three Birmingham charities, Kajans Women’s Enterprise Ltd, Our People Our Legacy and Aurora B Friendly Association, known as KAO.
And it is not just food the team have provided assistance with.
Leading volunteer Ken Ivey explained how the group's actions have been the difference between life and death, being on hand to call an ambulance for an isolated and elderly woman who had fallen ill at her home in Erdington.
Ken said: “We went to take a meal to a lady in Erdington and she did not answer the door. We saw through the letterbox that inside the lady wasn’t moving. We tried to talk to her through a letterbox, then called an ambulance.”
“Fortunately we were able to get in touch with her relatives and thank god everything is ok. But she is not as well as she was before.”
Many of the people they help are part of the Windrush generation who helped rebuild Britain following the end of the Second World War
Hannah dances for 24 hours raising £14,000 for Mind
Hannah Turner, from London, hosted dance and fitness sessions on Zoom over lockdown.
She also raised over £14,000 for Mind by dancing for 24 hours.
Kirstie Valentine of Worcester Fitness Training ran zoom sessions and kept her members motivated and engaged during lockdown.
93-year-old Violet Walpole visits the Oldham Community Leisure for weekly line dancing classes.
She is an inspiration to those who know her and always comes with a smile.
Girl, 9, who did 100 dances in 100 days is one of many kind heroes
Gavin Dutton, from Chichester, West Sussex, a football coach who set up Zoom Ballers’ during lockdown offering free online training sessions for his youth teams, combining fitness and football skills training.
Singer songwriter, Joe Stilgoe from Hove, Sussex, who started his ‘Stilgoe in the Shed’ shows during lockdown and helped raise more than £20,000 for his local NHS Foundation Trust.
Robert Dixon runs ‘Lions in the camp,’ a boxing club for kids in Egham and Staines, helping to build local children’s confidence and fitness, as well as helping them have fun.
Nine-year-old Miami Edwards, from Whitchurch, has raised over £1,200 for the NSPCC by doing 100 dances in 100 days.
Nick Bender, from Waltham Forest, offers free exercise classes to older adults.
Nominations for acts of kindness
Yvette Shepherd, the secretary, organiser of games and local fun day events planner at the York Railway Institute football club.
Krzysztof Niedzielski, 42, from Consett has been nominated by his son for his coaching of the Southmoor Bears football club.
Darren Iles, 53, Thetford, Norfolk, has been nominated by his son Hayden for supporting grassroots football in Norfolk.
He's Chairman of the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League, Treasurer for Thetford Town FC, East Harling FC and a Norfolk FA Qualified Referee.
School which became a 'family support service' during pandemic
When the pandemic hit, staff at St Giles’ School in Derby sprang into action.
St Giles is the only primary school in Derby for students with special educational needs and disabilities, such as learning difficulties, physical disabilities, autism and visual impairment.
Executive Head Clive Lawrence, 35, told the Mirror about his concern for his students’ welfare at the start of the pandemic:
“As the leader of the school, everybody is relying on you. I presented myself in a professional way by being calm and collective. But inside, I was just as worried as everybody else.”
But the school rallied around pupil’s and their families: “We've become a family support service, beyond teaching and learning.
"There were some families who were struggling financially because of income related to their benefits or because they lost their jobs.”
They redistributed funding from the Parents and Teachers Association which would otherwise have been spent on school trips and activities, to help meet their students’ needs.
“We created things like food parcels and we were doing weekly shopping for families, as there were some that were shielding and may not have had local family or friends nearby.
“We're fortunate that we have a full time NHS nurse based in the school. So she worked with pharmacist consultants to get stocks of key medication that children in our school ordinarily would need, but couldn't get access to quickly enough.”
The school made sure to support their pupils’ parents:
“Everybody in the leadership team had a group of families and would ring them on a weekly basis."
Volunteers who cared for others in lockdown
Cornish young famers, Sam Oatey, 21, Ellie Wait, 21, Ryan Harris, 26 and Matthew Rawlinson, 20, came together to care for the vulnerable during lockdown.
Sharon Battiste from Newcastle-Under-Lyme works with the Realise charity.
During the pandemic she organised 13 community Get Together events, as well as raising awareness about loan sharks, with the aim of protecting people against illegal money lending.
Volunteer bereavement counsellor, Lilian McDade from Glasgow for helping those coping with the loss of a loved one from Covid-19.
The heroes helping people with essential items
GP Robbie Coull has been working with schools which have 3D printers to produce his own protective masks.
Bath-based Elina Russell used her sewing machine to make scrubs for NHS workers.
Belfast resident Maura O'Brien spent her free time during Covid to do shopping for an elderly couple who are self-isolating.
Retired photographer Martin Boyd from Bangor, Northern Ireland, helped Volunteer Bikers NI to collect and deliver prescriptions, PPE and essential supplies.
How The Women's Institute has been a lifeline for thousands during Covid
The Women's Institute has been a lifeline for thousands of people during Covid.
And there are few better examples of the good work its members have done than Shiela Rhodes, the president of Appleby WI.
Throughout the pandemic Shiela, 74, from from Broughton, worked tirelessly to keep in touch with members, many of whom do not have computers and can’t use Zoom for contact.
She shopped, collected newspapers and checked on people who had been ill.
“I would knock on the doors of the elderly ones and check that they were ok.
“The lady who delivered the newspapers gave up the paper round, and I knew of this one lady who lives for the paper on Saturday morning.
“So I said 'don’t worry Mary, I’ll collect it for you and anybody else who wants one'.
“Some of the members would say ‘while you’re there, could you get me this and that’, so I started to do their shopping for them.
“I used to do shopping for one lady, knock at the door and put it on the doorstep, and she’d put the money in a cup on the doorstep.”
She also delivered Christmas cards and presents.
Hafsa is planning a community library for her estate - among many other kind acts
Hafsa Mekki runs Moss Side Eco Squad, a volunteeer group of litter pickers.
She campaigns for council support and at Christmas she set up a Christmas lights trail.
She sucessfully applied for funding to build a mini park and allotment.
Hafsa is planning a community library for her estate with gardening equipment and created a mum's support group for mums struggling to work from home.
Litter pickers collect 5 million aluminium cans in scheme to pay for helipad at hospital
Litter pickers from across Leicestershire have banded together to collect five million aluminium can.
The scheme is being lead by South Leicestershire litter womble Geoff Walker, from Braunstone, and John Nowell, the founder of the charity Helipads for Hospitals.
They have collected five million aluminium cans to help pay for a helipad at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Woman supports others with breast cancer while going through her own recovery
Francine Goldman, 57, from Prestwich, Manchester, has raised £7,000 for a breast cancer charity this year.
Despite going through her own recovery, Francine wanted to support other women also dealing with the effects of breast cancer.
Along with many patients across the country, Francine’s routine mammogram was postponed for five months due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She was later diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) in the left breast, and had to undergo a mastectomy in December 2020.
Francine raised the money by organising a 5K sponsored dog walk through Heaton Park, Manchester, in November.
“Everybody was on board as a team to bring in as much money as possible. I set out to raise £1,200 with friends to take my mind off my forthcoming surgery and further diagnosis. We smashed the target in the first week!”
Prevent Breast Cancer describes itself as “the only UK breast cancer charity funding ground-breaking research solely aimed at preventing the disease for future generations”.
The charity has faced a difficult year dealing with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and has relied on fundraisers like Francine.
Although Francine is now cancer-free, she hopes to encourage other women whose check-ups have been delayed due to the pandemic to come forward.
Heroes who have been helping to keep the streets clean
Florence Parson, aged nine, has become a litter picking hero in Yeovil.
She started litter picking five years ago and her family have collected over 260 bags of rubbish last August alone.
Litter hero Garry Meyer, who has been a #LitterHeroes ambassador for the last 29 months as part of the The Tidy Up Team in Brighton and Hove.
Founder of project to collect stories about stigmas women face recognised
The Mirror would like to say thank you to:
Hackney resident Ketchurah Ravindren who founded the Akka project to collect stories about the stigmas that women from different cultures and communities face.
Aleksandra Vetrova wants to thank Kristina Ondon White for her work for the London gymnastics academy during lockdown.
Richard White, 51, from Harlow, Essex, who has been the volunteer scorer for Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club since 1984.
He has scored a staggering 1,622 first team matches for the club up the end of 2020 season. Until 2021 he had only missed five games in that 37 year period.