Help shape the future of Volleyball in England 

There is no more timely opportunity than now to get those thoughts and views across and, in doing so, help shape the future direction of Volleyball England and its members. 

Volleyball England is at the starting point for the development of its next long-term strategy - and understands the volleyball community it serves has a critical part to play in shaping it. 

It is a deliberate choice that this process will not begin with a pre-written strategy, or a long list of proposed priorities. Instead, Volleyball England wants to listen first. 

Over the coming months, the Hub Team, Board Members and Working Groups will be speaking to and hearing from people from across all facets of the sport – Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball – to better understand what they need to get the most from their respective experience. 

Whether that means simply enjoying the game, developing as a player, coach or official, growing a sustainable club, providing great competitions and opportunities, or achieving at the highest level, the organisation would highly value your thoughts, feedback and opinions. 

The journey 

The approach to creating a new strategy will be simple: 

Listen → Understand → Develop → Test and Learn → Refine 

The first phase will run between now and the end of October, and will focus on listening to members and understanding the clearest messages coming out from across the sport. 

A short consultation will begin built around just four questions: 

1) What does a great volleyball experience look like? 

2) What needs to be in place to enable it? 

3) What currently gets in the way? 

4) What one change could make the biggest difference? 

Individuals, clubs, associations, leagues and other volleyball providers are all able to contribute. 

Complete the strategy consultation by clicking here. 

The findings will be considered by Volleyball England's Strategy Development Working Group (SDWG) before forming a central part of the Board’s strategy discussions at its Away Weekend at the end of October. 

The SDWG comprises of Chief Executive Charlie Ford, Deputy Chief Executive Guin Batten, Board Chair Rowena Hackwood and Board Directors Alison Shipley, Anton Kornilov, Jess Keen and Jess Plumridge.

From there, the development of a future direction will begin, with further opportunities for members and stakeholders to contribute as thinking evolves. 

It is expected that a first view of the new strategy will be available at the next AGM in July 2027, before further testing, learning and refinement ahead of a final strategy later in 2027. 

Importantly, it is also intended that 2027-28 will be used as a transition year, where the organisation can test and implement some of the emerging thinking, learning what works and allowing that experience to inform the final direction that is taken. 

A strategy for the whole sport 

A modern and innovative sport is an interconnected ecosystem in which Volleyball England, regions and counties, clubs, leagues, partners and wider stakeholders each understand the role they play in delivering a shared ambition. 

Volleyball England provides the strategic leadership, governance and national framework, setting direction and standards, representing and advocating for the sport, attracting investment and creating the conditions for others to succeed. 

Regions and counties connect national ambition with local needs and opportunities.  

Clubs sit at the heart of the participant experience, providing the environments where people play, compete, coach, officiate, volunteer and belong. 

Partners and stakeholders bring additional expertise, investment, facilities, technology, influence and reach. 

The key is clarity, alignment and collaboration. Everyone does not need to do everything; each part of our sport needs to understand what it is responsible for, where it adds the greatest value and how it connects with others. 

Increasingly, the role of Volleyball England should be to enable, connect and influence as well as lead and deliver. 

The new strategy, therefore, needs to establish not only where we all collectively want volleyball to go, but how the whole volleyball community can work together to get there. 

Your voice in the room is welcomed 

Alongside the wider consultation, Volleyball England is inviting Expressions of Interest to join a Strategy Development Consultation Group. 

This group is intended to bring together a diverse cross-section of the volleyball community and provide an important sounding board throughout the strategy development process. 

The search is on for representation from across the sport (players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, clubs, leagues, associations and other contributors) and from across different ages, backgrounds, levels of the game and formats, including indoor, beach and sitting volleyball. 

You do not need to hold a particular position or have previous experience of strategy development. What matters is that you care about the future of volleyball and are willing to contribute your experiences, ideas and perspectives constructively. 

Express an Interest in joining the Strategy Development Consultation Group by clicking here. 

This is the start, not the end 

Volleyball England's new strategy must ultimately make choices. 

The organisation will not be able to do everything, nor should it seek to do everything. 

The Board will retain responsibility for determining Volleyball England’s strategic direction, but delivering the ambitions established will require the collective contribution of our whole sport. 

Those choices should be informed by a strong understanding of the people, clubs and organisations that make volleyball happen every week, alongside the partners and stakeholders who can help us unlock its future potential. 

Before deciding where to go next, it is vital to understand what the volleyball community in England needs to thrive, what role each part of our sport can play, and what everyone can achieve working together. 

That is why your voice matters. 

Click here to complete the strategy consultation. 

'An opportunity to think differently about what our sport could become' 

Volleyball England's Chair of the Board, Rowena Hackwood is excited by the chance to take a fresh look at the organisation's strategic direction. 

“Volleyball in England has made significant progress in recent years, but our ambition for the future should go much further," she said. 

"This is an opportunity to think differently about what our sport could become and to build a strategy that reflects the needs, opportunities and ambitions of our whole volleyball community. 

“As a Board, we have an important responsibility to provide leadership and ultimately make choices about our future direction, but we cannot shape that future in isolation. Volleyball is a connected ecosystem and its continued growth will depend on Volleyball England, our regions and counties, clubs, volunteers, partners and stakeholders understanding the role each of us can play and working towards a shared ambition. 

“I would encourage everyone who cares about the future of volleyball to get involved, share your experiences and challenge us to think ambitiously about what comes next. This is our opportunity to collectively shape the next chapter for volleyball in England.”