A Christmas message from Volleyball England's CEO

As we reach the end of 2025, I want to begin by sincerely thanking our entire volleyball community, our clubs, members, volunteers, officials, partners and everyone who pours countless hours and boundless energy into our sport. I never want this sentiment to feel hollow or tokenistic; I say it because I deeply mean it. Everything we can celebrate this year belongs to the sport and to the people who make it thrive. These are not Volleyball England's achievements alone; they are our achievements. 

It's also worth acknowledging that what follows is only a snapshot of what has been an incredibly full and transformative 12 months. As a national governing body fortunate enough to steward three fantastic formats of the game, we work hard to ensure our efforts are proportionate and responsibe to the opportunities presented at any given time. While different formats may come to the forefront at different moments, our commitment to each remains unwavering. 

2025 highlights

• Partnering with Sportworx to deliver the world's first indoor Queen & King of the Court event at Crystal Palace this November - a landmark moment for the sport globally.
• Successfully migrating the National Volleyball Centre from Kettering to Loughborough University, unlocking enhanced facilities, volunteer support, streaming and broadcast capability, and embedding volleyball within a truly world-class sporting environment. 
• Hosting the NEVZA Senior and Junior Beach Championships on Bridlington Beach, building on the fantastic events delivered in 2024.
• Staging the inaugural Volleyball England University Sitting Volleyball Tournament held at the UEL SportsDock in East London. 
• Launching the Volleyball England learning platform, transforming education and training opportunities right across the sport. 
• Establishing and implementing a new Kukri apparel partnership, bringing previous rights under a single umbrella and enhancing our VolleyStore offering, reinvestment potential and brand presence. 
• Delivering meaningful progress on our Heritage Project as part of Volleyball England's 70th anniversary, preserving governance records, publications and event materials for generations to come. 
• Achieving a 15% reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions through our environmental sustainability policy and actions. 
• Launching the Ann Jarvis Hardship Fund to improve inclusivity and support within the Talent Pathway.
• Celebrating the Bellos making history as the first English pair to compete at the World Beach Championships in Adelaide. 
• Congratulating Nick Heckford on his appointment as a Challenge Referee for the FIVB Men's World Championships 2025 - an outstanding personal and national milestone.
• The new Player Community Group presenting to the Board in October on a wide range of player matters and discussing how player voice can be embedded within the governance structures. 
• Celebrating 15 years of our flagship Higher Education Volleyball Officer (HEVO) Programme with a world class NPS score of 82.
• Securing additional Sport England and Commonwealth England investment enabling the support of Indoor Senior/U22 programmes and Beach pathway development. 

Alongside these achievements, I want to express our sincere thanks to the many partners and stakeholders who work closely with us and help make all of this possible including Sport England, UKSport, the Volleyball England Foundation, the British Volleyball Federation, UKBT, and many others across the sporting landscape. Your support, collaboration, and shared ambition continue to elevate our sport. 

Looking ahead to 2026

While 2025 has been a remarkable year, we are determined to go further in 2026. The opening of the new indoor beach centre in Birmingham, hosting England's first Beach Pro Tour event, the introduction of new university-based Sitting Volleyball competitions, enhanced digital engagement for our fans and followers, and many more exciting developments will pave the way for another year of progress, innovation and growth. 

Thank you once again for everything you do for volleyball. Have a wonderful Christmas period with your friends, family and loved ones and we look forward to everything that 2026 has in store.