Why our partners invest in volleyball for social impact

When organisations invest in sport, the real return is not equipment or results. It is the ability to bring people together and create shared experience.

At Let’s Keep the Ball Flying (LKTBF), that role is played by volleyball. The sport is used to open access to organised play in communities where facilities, equipment or structured programmes are limited.

“Volleyball is simple and adaptable, which makes it powerful in communities with limited space, resources or access to organised sport. It creates connection quickly and gives people a shared activity they can take ownership of from the very first session,” says Ron Zwerver, Head of Partnerships, LKTBF.

Partners who work closely with the programmes see this first-hand.

Why volleyball works for social impact in underserved communities

Volleyball is accessible by nature. You don’t need expensive equipment. You don’t need specialist facilities. In many cases, you don’t even need a marked court. With a bit of creativity, a playable space can be created almost anywhere.

For organisations investing in community sport, that practicality matters. Volleyball adapts easily across ages, abilities and settings. From the first session, players lean on each other to keep the rally going.

In simple terms: people don’t just play, they rely on each other.

The game creates structure, but also room to grow. Confidence builds through repetition, connection forms naturally and learning happens through play. Its flexibility across formats, surfaces and team sizes makes it naturally inclusive.

Professional clubs see the same dynamic in their own environments.

Volleyball is more than elite competition. It is a way to share experiences and learn the value of playing and working together. Practising sport brings people together, defying barriers and prejudices. On the court we belong to the same team. We are equals," says Giulia Gabana, President, Modena Volley.

This is what makes volleyball such a strong tool for social impact. It travels well. It scales without losing its purpose. And it fits into communities where other sports struggle to land.

How partners use volleyball to support underserved communities

Our partners don’t treat volleyball as a one-off activity. They use it as a practical entry point into communities where access to organised sport and safe shared spaces is limited.

Programmes like Adopt a Team and Volley Beyond Borders are built around long-term engagement. Volleyball becomes the consistent thread that brings people back week after week, season after season, creating routine, trust and familiarity over time.

Adopt a Team supports local groups by strengthening what already exists rather than replacing it. Teams are backed over time, allowing trust to develop organically and leadership to emerge from within the community.

Weekly volleyball sessions, creating structure and connection in a refugee community setting, Greece

Volley Beyond Borders works in a similar way, using volleyball to connect people across borders and backgrounds. The focus is not performance, but participation, continuity and shared experiences, particularly in environments where forming friendships and a sense of belonging can be difficult.

"Refugees and asylum seekers arrive at our gym from all over the world, with diverse cultures and life experiences. While we offer many sports, volleyball stands out because it’s accessible, casual and collaborative. It’s a space to step away from daily adversity, building friendships and memories that stay with people long after the session ends,” says Donal Cotter, Communications & Advocacy Manager, Yoga and Sport with Refugees.

What partnering with LKTBF makes possible

Using sport to support communities is straightforward in theory. Delivering it consistently, especially with limited resources, is where the real work begins.

Rather than running programmes for communities, LKTBF works alongside local leaders, volunteers and coaches to make volleyball delivery practical and sustainable.

A local GURU coach leading a community volleyball session in South-East India.

“We combine volleyball expertise with strong local partnerships, so programmes fit the reality on the ground. By showing up consistently and tracking participation and continuity, we help communities build systems that last beyond short-term projects,” says Ron Zwerver, Head of Partnerships, LKTBF.

The focus is on helping local leaders run sessions themselves. When resources are limited, the GURU programme plays a critical role, offering online guidance and simple tools, from coaching basics to creating playable courts with minimal equipment. 

The result is clear: local leaders are equipped to run sessions independently and keep programmes going over time.

For funders supporting long-term programmes, this approach matters. Local leaders run sessions themselves, teams continue without constant outside support and volleyball becomes part of the community’s weekly routine.

Why organisations invest in volleyball for social impact

Partners don’t commit to good intentions alone. They commit to approaches that are practical, credible and built to last.

Organisations working with LKTBF consistently point to three reasons they stay involved.

First, there is clarity. Volleyball programmes are easy to understand and easy to communicate internally. The value is clear without being oversold.

Second, is accountability. Impact is linked to participation, continuity and community engagement, making progress visible and measurable.

Third, there is alignment. Partners such as Slunks, Bring It Promotions and Yoga and Sports with Refugees support LKTBF not just for visibility, but because the values reflect how they already operate.

Tim Kelly, Founder of Bring It Promotions, visiting their adopted volleyball team in Tanzania, May 2025

“After seeing firsthand what Lesley and his team have built on the ground, partnering with LKTBF was an easy decision. The impact they’re having in communities with limited access to sport is truly inspiring. We look forward to a long-term partnership, including future trips together and continued support through fundraising to help expand and sustain this work," says Tim Kelly, Founder, Bring It Promotions.

The impact beyond the court

What happens on the court is only part of the story. Over time, volleyball sessions lead to stronger social bonds, increased confidence and a sense of belonging. Young people take on responsibility. Coaches emerge from within communities. Safe routines replace idle time.

This is the real outcome of volleyball for social impact: consistency, not just activity.

The long-term value sits in what remains once a session ends: skills, relationships and confidence that continue to shape communities.

Why LKTBF is a trusted partner for social impact through sport

LKTBF does not try to run programmes alone. It works with partners, volunteers, coaches and communities to build initiatives that continue locally.

Its role is practical: connect the right people, support delivery on the ground and share what works across borders and contexts. That consistency is why partners stay involved.

If you are considering how to invest in sport for social impact, the question is not whether volleyball works. It is who you trust to deliver it with integrity, patience and long-term commitment. Long-term partners point to that consistency as the reason they stay involved.

“Volleyball is about community, and that’s what we care most about at Slunks. Working with LKTBF feels genuine because the focus is always on people first and building something that lasts," says Chris Reames, CEO, Slunks.

Ready to take the next step?

Supporting volleyball for social impact requires more than belief in sport. It is about backing an approach that works in practice.

Partnering with LKTBF means supporting programmes that are practical, adaptable and built to last. It means working with communities, not imposing solutions and partnering with an organisation grounded in delivery, not just strategy.

If you are exploring a partnership and want to understand what meaningful involvement could look like, let’s start that conversation.

Talk to us: lktbf.org/partnerships