09 January 2025

Eyes On, Hands On in 2024: The headline stats

It’s been another brilliant year for our Eyes On, Hands On volunteer programme.

Eyes On, Hands On in 2024

A close up of a man's hands cleaning a CWGC RAF headstone with a wire brush and some warm water.

Our Eyes On, Hands On (EOHO) volunteers were very busy in 2024. 

Once more, with boundless enthusiasm, they helped Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintenance teams maintain scattered war graves up and down the UK.

Over the course of the year, our volunteers performed brilliantly, completing:

This reflects the huge number of Commonwealth War Graves sites up and down England, Scotland, and Wales– as well as the incredible effort put in by EOHO volunteers.

There are over 160,000 Commonwealth War Graves headstones in the United Kingdom. From scattered, isolated graves, to those in local churchyards and cemeteries, and our military cemeteries, these represent casualties from across the world.

While the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s maintenance and horticulture teams do an incredible job looking after our sites nationwide, sometimes they need a little bit of help, especially with the more local war graves.

That’s where our Eyes On, Hands On volunteers. Over 2,000 history enthusiasts give up their free time to inspect and, if necessary, clean and tidy headstones across the country.

Eyes On, Hands On progress

Thanks to the incredible work of our volunteers, the number of headstones spruced up and sites inspected has increased.

Take 2022’s EOHO stats for example. At the start of that year, over 94,000 headstones had been inspected and 14,000 reports were filed. 

Now, two years later, we’ve seen a great increase in the number of site visits and headstone inspections, helping to reduce to the workload of Commission teams. 

In this way, we’re ensuring graves nationally are kept to the high standards people expect of Commonwealth War Graves headstones and sites.

The Eyes On, Hands On project

Eyes On, Hands On was launched in 2019 and continues to go from strength to strength.

We are truly blessed to have history in every street, village, town, and city in the United Kingdom. The World Wars are two of the most significant events in our nation’s history, touching the lives of seemingly every family across the country.

These are the men and women who the Commission commemorates and the projects of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation focus on. It’s our duty to keep their memories alive to educate future generations on the enormous sacrifice made by over 1.7 million people in the World Wars.

Through Eyes On, Hands On, we’re encouraging people to get out there, explore their local history, and learn more about the people commemorated on their patch.

Through their research, shared with friends and family, casualties go beyond just a name on a headstone.

How to get involved with Eyes On, Hands On

Want to become an Eyes On, Hands On volunteer? Head on over to the Commonwealth War Graves Volunteer page and make an application.

You may notice the programme is being expanded outside the UK! We have EOHO volunteering opportunities in Iceland!

Close to 250 war graves are scattered across Iceland with limited access for our maintenance teams. Can you help us care for them? Apply today.

Please note: because of the brilliant historic response to EOHO, the team is only recruiting in some specific areas and towns. Open recruitment areas are available on the Volunteer page. If there are no open areas near you, please get in contact to discuss future opportunities. and other ways to get involved.

How to support the Eyes On, Hands On Programme

The Eyes On, Hands On programme relies on the generosity of our Members and supporters. With your help, we can continue to train volunteers to help care for war graves across the United Kingdom. 

The best way to support the Eyes On, Hands On Programme is to become a CWGF Member.

For just £3 a month, not only do you get to support our volunteering, education, and outreach projects, but CWGF Members also enjoy:

Become a Member today and help us keep the memories of the Commonwealth’s war dead alive forever.

Don’t want to become a Member? Making a one-off donation is quick and easy. All of your donations go towards supporting CWGF projects. Please consider supporting us today.

Tags Eyes On Hands On Volunteer