Kingston sets out ambitious future for volunteering

Developed by Volunteering Kingston, the strategy is a collaborative effort with volunteers, voluntary organisations and Kingston Council. The launch took place on Thursday 5 June at Tolworth Recreation Centre and is a highlight in this year’s National Volunteers’ Week and Communities Month celebrations across the borough.

There are more than 450 charities and community groups across the Royal Borough of Kingston, and over 15,000 local people already volunteer their time, helping to create a fairer, safer, greener borough. From creating community gardens and helping to look after green spaces, to volunteering with food banks, community kitchens and artistic projects that enhance neighbourhoods, volunteers play a vital role in our communities. Nationally, there’s strong evidence of growing interest, with online searches for volunteering in the UK rising by 13 per cent over the past year. This trend aligns with what is happening in Kingston, with more people looking to give their time, particularly in flexible or skills-based ways.

The new volunteering strategy sets out a bold vision for continuing to increase volunteering in Kingston. Developed through two years of collaboration between partners from the voluntary, community, faith and public sectors, it focuses on creating accessible, inclusive, and meaningful opportunities for all, and recognises the vital contributions of volunteers across the borough.

The strategy aims to:

• Reflect Kingston’s diversity in volunteering opportunities

• Support lifelong volunteering from early age

• Remove barriers to engagement and widen access

• Celebrate and raise awareness of the impact of volunteers

• Foster innovation and shared leadership across the sector

Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch, who spoke about his own passion for volunteering at the strategy launch, said:

“I’m incredibly proud of Kingston’s long-standing volunteering culture. I want to thank those who selflessly give up their time to work alongside and support communities, their contributions help shape services and stimulate new approaches to meeting the needs of residents. 

 

“Across the Royal borough of Kingston we work best when we come together, not just to respond to extreme circumstances but also to create fairness and equity, celebrate diversity, build inclusion and share opportunity. Embedding these principles locally supports the stronger and resilient communities we all aspire to.”

You can explore the full Kingston Volunteering Strategy, and the Four-Year Plan on the Volunteering Kingston website.

To learn more about current volunteering opportunities across the borough and how to get involved, visit the volunteering pages on the Kingston Council website.