Woking's voluntary sector fair returns to Woking Leisure Centre on 12 November. 49 groups have signed up, and charities can book a free stall until 28 October.
Forty-nine charities and community groups have booked a place at Woking’s voluntary sector fair, which returns to Woking Leisure Centre on Thursday 12 November. Groups that want a stall have until Wednesday 28 October to sign up, and it is free.
Residents do not need to book anything. The fair is open to drop in between 10.30am and 1.30pm (Woking Borough Council).
This is the sixth year of Working Together for Woking, which the council describes as the borough’s largest showcase of voluntary and community support. It expects up to 100 organisations on the day. More than 100 took part last year (Volunteer Woking).
Who has signed up so far
The roster published by Volunteer Woking runs to 49 organisations as of 16 September. It is a usefully plain list of who actually provides support in the borough, and it is worth reading even if you never go to the fair.
Groups based in or named for Woking include:
- Angelic Network Woking
- Canalside Community Fridge
- Home-Start Runnymede and Woking
- RISE Woking
- South Woking Community Food Bank
- Woking Association of Neighbourhood Watches
- Woking Borough Council Living Well
- Woking District Rotary Club
- Woking Family Centre
- Woking Shopmobility
- Woking Street Angels
The county and national organisations on the list include Action for Carers Surrey, Active Surrey, Catalyst Support, Crossroads Care Surrey, Guide Dogs, the Stroke Association, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, Surrey Care Trust, Surrey Choices, Surrey Community Action and Surrey Independent Living Charity.
Two NHS bodies are taking part: Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the NHS Surrey Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. Mind Matters NHS Talking Therapies, run by Surrey and Borders Partnership, is also listed.
Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards is sending its Scam Champions, which is the sort of stall worth finding if you have had a doorstep caller or a suspect phone call.
What the fair is actually for
Two things, and they are different audiences.
For residents, it is a chance to find services and volunteering opportunities in one room rather than one website at a time. Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, the council’s leader, said the event “highlighted the incredible contribution our voluntary and community sector makes to people’s lives every day”, and asked residents to “come and browse local services or find a volunteering opportunity that’s right for you”.
For the organisations, it is networking. Volunteer Woking publishes an account from Woking Street Angels of what came out of last year’s fair. The charity says it was able to “partner with several organisations on community events” through connections made on the day and “have even received a grant from another local charity”. It describes the event as a platform to highlight “our ongoing need for volunteers”.
That is a specific claim about a specific outcome, which is more than most event write-ups manage.
What it means for you
- If you run a charity or community group in the borough, register for a free stall before Wednesday 28 October. Volunteer Woking gives volunteer@woking.gov.uk as the contact address for questions.
- If you are looking for help, the 49 organisations above are a starting list, and every one of them links through to its own website from the Volunteer Woking page.
- If you want to volunteer, you do not have to wait until November. Volunteer Woking carries current opportunities all year round.
- Getting there: Woking Leisure Centre is in Woking Park, Kingfield Road, GU22 9BA (Everyone Active). Check our roadworks and travel page nearer the day, and our guide to parking in Woking for town centre alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is Working Together for Woking 2026?
Thursday 12 November 2026 at Woking Leisure Centre, Kingfield Road, GU22 9BA. It runs from 10.30am to 1.30pm and it is free.
Do residents need a ticket?
No. The council describes it as a drop-in, so you can turn up during the opening hours.
How do charities and community groups book a stall?
Sign up online through Volunteer Woking before Wednesday 28 October 2026. Stalls are free. Questions go to volunteer@woking.gov.uk.
How many organisations will be there?
49 had signed up as of 16 September. The council says it expects up to 100 on the day, and more than 100 took part last year.
Is this a jobs fair?
No. It is a showcase of voluntary and community organisations, aimed at connecting residents with local services and volunteering opportunities, and at letting those organisations network with each other.
Sources
- Woking Borough Council: Save the date, Woking’s Voluntary Sector Fair returns for a sixth year, published 4 September 2026 (date, venue, drop-in times, the 28 October registration deadline, the up-to-100 organisations figure, and Cllr Barker’s comments)
- Volunteer Woking: Working Together for Woking, checked 16 September 2026 (the list of 49 organisations signed up, the contact address, and the Woking Street Angels account of the 2025 fair)
Checked against the sources above on 16 September 2026. Organisations are still registering, so the list will grow before the day.
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