Blog: The Power of Volunteering

Volunteers’ Week 2026 is an opportunity to pause, reflect and say a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers across Kent and Medway who give their time, skills and energy to help others be active or play sport. From coaching and officiating, to welcoming new participants, supporting events or helping behind the scenes, volunteering makes movement possible in our local communities.

Sport England’s Active Lives survey shows that roughly 10.9m adults (22.7%) gave up their time, across the 12-month period from mid-November 2024 to mid-November 2025, to support sport and physical activity.  Sport England also estimates that volunteering within sport and physical activity contributes £8.2 billion in social value each year, largely through improved wellbeing and stronger social connections.

Without volunteers, many clubs, sessions and activities simply would not exist. They create capacity, keep programmes running and often provide the friendly face that helps someone feel confident to take part for the first time. They help create safe, inclusive environments where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can enjoy being active.

The impact of volunteers can be seen clearly through initiatives like parkrun, where thousands of weekly events across the UK are delivered entirely by volunteers. Research by parkrun and Sheffield Hallam University found that 86% of people who volunteer at parkrun reported improved happiness, compared with 79% of those who walk or run, highlighting the added wellbeing benefits of volunteering roles.

When people volunteer, the benefits ripple far beyond the individual. Strong volunteer networks help clubs and organisations become more resilient, responsive and inclusive. UK Coaching research highlights that a high number of coaches in community sport are volunteers, playing a critical role in introducing people to sport at a local level, creating positive first experiences of physical activity.

As we mark Volunteers’ Week 2026, if you are already volunteering, thank you for everything you do. If you are thinking about getting involved, now is the perfect time to discover how volunteering could make a positive difference to your life and to others across Kent and Medway.

Published: June 2026

This blog was partly generated using AI technology. It was sense checked and reviewed by Active Kent & Medway to ensure accuracy and alignment with our mission and values.