Volunteering
Volunteering is imperative for sport. Many clubs rely on volunteers so it is important to acknowledge the benefits gained. However, it is a two way process where both the club and the volunteer should benefit.Why choose to be a volunteer?
- Gain experience
- Develop interpersonal and technical skills
- New qualifications
- Enhance your CV
- Enjoyment for sport
- Meet new people
- Give something back to the local community
- Personal achievement
How to become a volunteer
- Community Volunteers Award
- Keep in close contact with local sporting initiatives
- Search for volunteering opportunities using websites and find your local volunteer bureau (see the Volunteer Development England website)
How does your club recruit volunteers?
- Start looking in plenty of time
- Appoint a volunteer coordinator from your club
- Define the job and why it is important
- State the numbers of hours work
- Number of volunteers required
- Roles and responsibilities
- Skills and qualifications needed
- Skills developed
- State the benefits for the volunteer
- Advertise using local media
- Promote the club so people what to invest time and effort
- Recruitment leaflets/posters for schools, colleges and universities
How to retain volunteers?
- Inductions to meet everyone in the club
- Motivation e.g. set objectives so they have something to achieve
- Incentives
- Support and guidance e.g. use a sports volunteer action/support plan.
- Have a volunteering profile for members to complete
- Thank and appreciate volunteers
- Feedback to the volunteer
- Training opportunities
Where to find Volunteers
Internal volunteers
- Ask people to volunteer such as parents and relatives of those participating
- Information leaflet about jobs that need to be done
- Word of mouth, notice boards, newsletters to publicise for more volunteers
External volunteers
- Use local media for sporting activities and advertise volunteer opportunities
- Contact schools, colleges and universities
- Students undergoing training
- All ages, abilities and skills
- Contact your local bureau to advertise volunteering opportunities
- P.E. professionals, teachers and school