We went to the House of Lords!

We were absolutely delighted to co-host a roundtable discussion in the House of Lords last week, exploring children’s civic participation and the power and potential of family volunteering.

The session, kindly hosted by Baroness Sater and Baroness Hodgson, brought together a full room of sector partners, funders, researchers, MPs, Parliamentarians, and, most importantly, the families and children who take part in our volunteering activities.

The discussion was rich and thought-provoking, covering topics such as:

• How (and why) charities can embrace child-friendly volunteering;

• The importance of planting the seed of civic action from a young age;

• Overcoming barriers to participation and ensuring equity and inclusion;

• The role of family volunteering in building community cohesion; and

• How to keep children’s voices and experiences at the centre of volunteering initiatives.

It was a joyful and inspiring afternoon that celebrated how far Family Volunteering Club has come since it very first session, and where it hopes to go. What began as a small local project has grown into a national movement helping families connect, give back, and make a positive difference together.

Although photography was not permitted in the committee room, we are pleased to share a few images captured in the Great Hall afterwards by photographer Alice Boagey, below.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us for the session and contributed their expertise, insights, and enthusiasm. Together, we continue to champion the belief that civic participation can (and should) start young - and that families volunteering together can help create healthier, happier communities for everyone.