Today marks a milestone for Volunteering Matters. After nearly a year of deep listening, collaboration, testing and refining, we are proud to launch our new five year strategy. This is not just the unveiling of a document. It is the start of a new chapter in how we work together, how we lead change, and how we create the future we want to see.

It has been a collective effort. From staff, volunteers and delivery partners to commissioners and community members, this strategy has been shaped by hundreds of voices. That shared ownership is what gives it strength. It is built on the realities we face, the hopes we hold, and the belief that volunteering can transform lives and communities.

We know working across England, Scotland and Wales is not always easy. The challenges are real. Funding pressures, structural inequalities, loneliness, declining trust and the cost of living crisis all affect the way we work. But so too does the power we hold when we act together with purpose and intent. This strategy reflects that power.

At its heart, our strategy is rooted in social justice, grounded in communities, powered by volunteers and focused on meaningful and measurable change. It recognises volunteering not just as giving time, but as mutual connection, where everyone benefits and everyone belongs.

We have set out five clear areas of change we want to see:

1. tackling loneliness
2. improving health and wellbeing
3. breaking down barriers to participation
4. equipping and enabling communities
5. creating social cohesion

We have also defined what it means to be part of our volunteer ecosystem. From one off and flexible roles to deep relationships, skilled volunteering, leading change and shaping systems. Every kind of contribution matters.

This strategy will not sit on a shelf. It will drive the decisions we make, the funding we seek, the partnerships we build and the culture we create together. From new team plans and shared objectives to a national CRM system and updated inclusion policies, the work ahead is clear and already underway.

We know the road ahead will not always be easy. But we also know this. We are already making a difference. We are growing our volunteer base year on year, bucking national trends. We are delivering impact in places that others overlook. And we are doing it with compassion, creativity and care.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this strategy. Thank you to our staff, volunteers and community partners who make this work possible every day. And thank you to those who are just joining us on this journey.

This is the beginning. We cannot wait to shape what comes next. Together.