Where a child lives should not decide whether they get to play sport.

Across England, many young people never enter organised sport — not because they don’t want to, but because cost, confidence and access quietly exclude them.
We step in early, using volleyball as a safe and welcoming environment where they can start and stay involved.

Support a young person

Refer a child or school

Volunteer

See our impact

Exclusion from sport often happens silently.

For many families, organised sport carries hidden barriers:

weekly fees
transport
equipment
lack of local provision
low confidence or social anxiety

By early secondary school, children who miss the first supported opportunity rarely return to sport later.

The result is long-term inactivity, isolation and reduced wellbeing.

We focus on the point where participation is most fragile — the very beginning.

Who We Are

Established in 2019, the Volleyball England Foundation exists to make sport accessible to those who would otherwise be left out.

We remove the barriers to participation.
We work with schools and communities where sport access is limited and provide structured support so young people can begin safely and confidently.
Our support includes:
- funded beginner sessions
- equipment and kit provision
- trained volunteers and supervised environments
- ongoing support so participants do not drop out after the first attempt
We are not a competition organiser.
Our role is making the first step possible.
A different type of sport environment.
Volleyball allows young people who feel excluded from traditional team sports to stay involved.
It works especially well because it is:
- non-contact and safe
- mixed-gender friendly
- suitable for beginners and late starters
- playable indoors year-round
- low equipment cost
For many participants, it is the first sport where they feel comfortable rather than judged.
What changes?

Our programmes aim for sustained participation, not one-off activity.
We measure success by:
- regular weekly attendance
- participants staying active beyond 12 weeks
- increased confidence and social connection
- continued involvement in physical activity
Some young people later join local clubs and wider opportunities, but the critical change is this:
they remain in sport when they would otherwise have left it entirely.
We are independent from competitions and regulation.
Our work sits at the very start of participation.
When participants choose to continue, they may progress into affiliated clubs and opportunities delivered through Volleyball England.
Our purpose is not to run competitions or the sport.
Our purpose is to ensure more young people are able to enter it.
The most important factor is a supportive adult.
You do not need volleyball experience to help.
You can:
- support a beginner session
- help a school activity
- assist at a community event
- mentor a participant
Often the greatest impact is simply showing up consistently.
Opportunity should not depend on income or postcode.
Some young people grow up surrounded by clubs and support.
Others grow up without a safe or affordable entry point into sport.
We exist to close that gap.
With the right support at the right moment, a young person doesn’t just try sport — they stay in it.