Support our volunteers: become a Big Give pledger

More than 1,000 volunteers around the world help make Free UK Genealogy possible.

Together, they have transcribed and made freely searchable hundreds of millions of historical records through FreeBMD, FreeCEN and FreeREG. They coordinate transcription projects, support other volunteers, develop and maintain our websites and software, and contribute to the day-to-day running of the charity.

Behind that extraordinary volunteer community are the equivalent of just two full-time members of staff.

This year, we’re taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise £20,000 to improve the support we provide to our volunteers, strengthen the community around them, and help us attract and retain volunteers for the future.

Before the public campaign begins, we need to secure £5,000 in pledges by 28 August 2026. Could you help us get there?

What is a pledge?

A pledge is a promise to give £100 or more towards our Big Give Christmas Challenge. You make your pledge now, but you won’t be asked to pay it until after the campaign in December.

Pledges form the first part of the Big Give match-funding process. By securing £5,000 in pledges, we become eligible for additional funding from a Big Give Champion. Together, these funds can create a match-funding pot which is then unlocked by donations from the public during the Christmas Challenge.

In other words, your pledge does much more than provide funds in its own right. It helps make further funding possible.