Each year, we are proud to support the Age UK Valentine’s Gala, a much-loved event that brings older residents across Kensington & Chelsea together for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and community. This year’s gala took place on Friday, 13 February, welcoming over 480 guests to the Great Hall for one of the highlights of the social calendar.
In the lead-up to the event, volunteers helped prepare something special for guests to take home. Working alongside two local primary schools, we organised a Valentine’s card-making activity which produced more than 500 handmade cards. Each one carried a message of kindness and care, ensuring guests would leave the gala with a small reminder of the community thinking of them.
As Yesenia, one of our long-standing event volunteers, shared:
I wanted to make others happy. I am a very sunshine person, so I wanted to bring something that I have in my heart to others.
Thanks to the support of local schools and more than 30 volunteers, these cards helped bring even more smiles to guests’ faces as they left the event.
On the day itself, 83 volunteers supported the gala, giving their time and energy to make the celebration possible.
From early in the morning, volunteers helped set up the venue, transforming the Great Hall into a welcoming space filled with decorations and festive touches. Once guests began to arrive, volunteers were there to greet them, help them find their seats, and make sure everyone felt comfortable and included throughout the afternoon.
The event was filled with great performances, delicious cakes and a joyful atmosphere, as guests spent time chatting, dancing and enjoying the company of others. This year also featured a photobooth wall decorated with handmade Valentine’s decorations, giving guests the chance to capture a special moment from the day and take a photo to remember it.
Yuri, one of our volunteers who took many of these amazing photos shared:
I was very happy to be part of the Valentine’s Gala activity. I was involved as a photographer to take pictures of all the people who were happy about it. I spent the day with people who I never can see otherwise. It was a fun and unbelievable experience.
Behind the scenes and throughout the day, volunteers played a vital role in creating an environment where everyone felt welcomed and cared for. Our CEO, Michael, gave a particular shout-out to all of our amazing volunteers:
110 of you gave your time, but more importantly your care, to give 450 older residents of K&C a terrific afternoon with their friends, whether they came with them or made them at the Gala. Thank you so much to all of you for your kindness and hard work!
We are incredibly grateful to Age UK for hosting this special event each year, as well as to the funders and partners who help make it possible. Most of all, thank you to the volunteers whose kindness and enthusiasm helped create such a memorable day for so many people.
Moments like this show the power of community in Kensington & Chelsea. When people give their time, creativity, and care, they help create spaces where others feel seen, welcomed, and connected. To help us continue bringing people together through volunteering and community activity across the borough, you can support our work by donating.
