Today saw the official launch of the Kingston Volunteer Strategy, taking place this morning (Thursday 5 June 2025 at The Studio, Tolworth Recreation Centre). This exciting event is a key feature of our local National Volunteers’ Week 2025 and Communities Month celebrations.
Developed through two years of collaboration, the Kingston Volunteer Strategy—alongside its Four-Year Plan—sets out a shared vision for strengthening the volunteering experience across the borough. It represents the collective efforts of partners from the voluntary, community, faith and public sectors, all working together to recognise, support, and grow volunteering in Kingston.
At the launch, we heard directly from volunteers about their journeys, as well as from key leaders shaping the Strategy. Speakers included Cllr Andreas Kirsch, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council, Sarah Ireland, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council, Sanja D Kane, Chief Executive, Kingston Voluntary Action and myself, Sarah Whitby, Community and Environmental Services Operations Manager, Groundwork London.
Copies of the full Strategy, the abridged Strategy and the Four-Year Plan 2025-29 can be found here: Kingston Volunteer Strategy.
The collaborative effort to create the Kingston Volunteering Strategy has generated a sense of ambition to grow, nurture and support volunteering. Respect for and contribution to local communities is now wider, it is more action-orientated and has more traction than previously. We look forward to 2029 and this Strategy cementing that sense of ambition.
Sarah Whitby. Communities Operations Manager, Groundwork London (for Volunteering Kingston).