At the Volunteer Centre for Kensington and Chelsea, we support local people to get involved, overcoming barriers to access, inclusion, and participation for one of the most diverse communities in the UK. We’re here, rain of shine, to enable people to give their time and care to others, while developing their skills, knowledge, confidence, relationships, health and wellbeing.
During the pandemic, we supported people living in Kensington and Chelsea in new ways. More than 2,000 registered with us to volunteer in the first weeks of the crisis, and we helped to coordinate food and medicine deliveries, befriending and public health campaigns, working closely with K&C Mutual Aid and other grassroots initiatives and connecting them with our local voluntary sector, council and health system. This helped people facing challenges like poverty, inequality, isolation, and healthcare barriers to get connected to the right support, including our own programmes and services. Our partnerships with community organisations and local authorities enable us to continue to play a useful role in addressing the causes of the problems local people face as well as their symptoms, breaking down their barriers to full participation in the life of the borough.
Recently, our CEO, Michael Ashe, was interviewed with Kensington and Chelsea Council. He explained the Volunteer Centre’s role in responding to the challenges faced in our borough, for example, in the response to the fire at Grenfell Tower and the COVID-19 pandemic. From mental health support to tackling the cost of living crisis, our role has been to help residents close the gap between their needs and the resources they require to meet them, so they can play the role they want to in the place that they live.
In the interview, Michael explains that our approach goes beyond service delivery, as we believe in empowering residents to participate in shaping the future of Kensington and Chelsea. Through ongoing work, like facilitating the development of Codesigned Service Standards with residents and Council staff, we continue to learn what matters most to local people. What we found is that it’s much less about fast responses or polite phone manners — and much more about people feeling valued and knowing that someone cares about their concerns. This reinforces our belief that community participation in designing, delivering and learning is central to positive change.
What truly stands out is how volunteering plays a vital role in this approach. Our work isn’t just about providing services — it’s about working with local people and ensuring they have a meaningful role, not just in making decisions that affect them, but in deliver change on the ground. This aligns with the Council’s strategic priority to involve the community in decision-making.
As Michael reflects in the video, this journey hasn’t always been easy, but taking it together has been inspiring. The future of Kensington and Chelsea depends on harnessing the skills and knowledge of people across the borough, working together to support one another. The Volunteer Centre is proud to play a part in the hard work of making that vision a reality.We invite you to join us on this journey of community empowerment through volunteering and participation!
Watch The Interview with Our CEO
Check out the interview with our CEO Michael Ashe’s in full here: The Volunteer Centre: What The Council Plans Mean to Me
Learn More About Our Services
Find current volunteering opportunities in Kensington and Chelsea here: “Find Volunteering Opportunities“
Learn more about our different programmes, offering support to a wide range of people in Kensington and Chelsea: “Find VCKC Programme“
Learn more about our activities here: “Find VCKC Activities
