At VCKC, we believe in the power of volunteering to strengthen communities and support people to live independently. Volunteering can change people’s lives. We know this because in Kensington & Chelsea, we have been responding to the changing needs of our community since 1969, when we started with a handful of volunteers working from our founder’s kitchen. The goals we started with still apply now. Any voluntary act of service can begin to build self-esteem, help a community organisation do more, and develop new skills and capabilities that may have seemed a distant prospect before volunteering.
We believe everyone should be able to take these opportunities to help themselves as they help others, but recognise that some people face barriers. We lend a hand to people who need additional support to climb over those barriers and take opportunities to make a difference. Our InsideOut and Wellbeing programmes provide tailored, one-to-one support to people to get involved and get on with their lives.
Your support can make the difference. Join us in making Kensington & Chelsea a better place to live, work, and study. We need your donations today to help deliver this work.
Stepping Stones
Our Stepping Stones programme supports disabled people and those with mental health needs to build self-esteem, skills, and their sense of connection and belonging. Through personalised, one-to-one support and group activities, participants can:
- Develop new skills through volunteering
- Improve mental health and overall wellbeing
- Build positive new relationships
- Increase their confidence and independence
Getting involved starts with a conversation – what are your goals, passions and strengths? We look at the barriers to be overcome, steps to doing so, and the opportunities for achievement – workshops to get to grips with health issues, group activities to provide a regular, positive focus with a new group of friends, and supported volunteering roles that make you feel good and build skills and experience, too!
Your support helps someone stop feeling lonely and isolated and start thriving!
Hear Yvette’s experience with our Stepping Stones programme, and the massive impact it has had on her wellbeing and confidence:
InsideOut
People with criminal convictions can give a lot back to the communities they live in, providing they can access the right support to find stability after prison. InsideOut works with people through-the-gate when they leave prison to help them rebuild their lives and ultimately give back to their communities:
- Stage one – Building: setting goals, making plans, and building a personal development plan.
- Stage two – Stabilsing: finding stability, accessing appropriate support, and achieving goals.
- Stage three – Flourishing: Harnessing lived experiences and diverse skills to build connectedness, support others and influence change.
We need your support to give someone a second chance.
Read Yuri’s experience with our InsideOut programme, and the massive impact it has had on his confidence, personal development, and overall lifestyle:
Other ways to support us
You can provide us with a one-off or ongoing donation via our JustGiving page. Your donation will go directly towards supporting the thousands of volunteers we work with every year.
We’d be delighted to hear from you if you want to run or take part in a fundraising event on our behalf, or want to share your ideas about fundraising. Please email us at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
The heart of our work is volunteering, and we are always on the lookout for new volunteers, whether they want to volunteer with the hundreds of community organisations in the borough or directly with VCKC. See our opportunities here.
