Scottish Borders Volunteering in Sport Guide for Volunteers Guide for Volunteers 2
Guide for Volunteers 3
CONTENTS 1. What is volunteering? 2. What volunteers do 3. How can I get involved? 4. Active Schools volunteers 5. Coaching opportunities 6. Volunteer Centre Borders role 7. Recognising volunteers Guide for Volunteers 1
WHAT IS VOLUNTEERING IN SPORT? Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. Generally, volunteering is described as an unpaid activity where someone gives their time, energy and skills to help a not-for-profit organisation, group or an individual. A volunteer does not receive payment in the form of a salary or wage and volunteering is their free choice. 2 Guide for Volunteers
I want to put something back into the sport that gave me so much enjoyment as a child. Why volunteer in sport? Volunteering in sport is a great way to socialise, be part of a team, gain new experience and keep yourself fit and active. You don t have to be sporty to volunteer. There are a wide range of opportunities to volunteer in sport such as: Coaching Administration Officiating Committee work Organising events/competitions And many more! Benefits of volunteering Some of the benefits of volunteering in sport are Gaining experience Learning new skills Meeting new people Helping others succeed Having fun Self satisfaction Giving something back to your local community Feeling useful Route into employment Improving your CV Being part of a successful team I get a lot out of volunteering because the children enjoy it so much. Seeing them coming back every week and getting better is a great feeling. Guide for Volunteers 3
WHAT VOLUNTEERS DO? Many people are reluctant to volunteer as they feel they have nothing to offer or they have no skills in coaching. Clubs and organisations have many different roles that they need help with, which are just or important as coaching. Some examples include: Making tea for players Cutting grass Setting up equipment Taking minutes at meetings Updating websites Becoming a committee member Driving teams to matches Organising fundraising events All these roles play a vital part in running a club and volunteers are essential in helping clubs meet running costs and making the club an integral part of the community. The roles above don t involve any coaching or physical activity, but are vital in helping local clubs survive. Remember...in volunteering you can give as little or as much time as you want. 4 Guide for Volunteers
What should you expect? When you approach the club/organisation: To be given information about current opportunities. To know exactly what the role entails. To be invited for a chat to discuss the opportunity. At the initial meeting: To fill out an application or be asked to provide references. To fill out a self declaration or PVG check (formerly known as disclosure) if volunteering with children or vulnerable adults. When you first start: To be given an induction pack or handbook detailing all relevant information such as the clubs policies and procedures for volunteers e.g. insurance and health and safety policies. To be introduced to members of the club. To be told who your main contacts will be. To be shown where equipment that you will need is kept. To be given details of any expenses you can claim. To receive, if required, any training needed to fulfil your role. What will be expected of you? To adhere to club policies i.e. health and safety policy. To respect confidentiality. To be punctual and inform someone if you are unable to attend. Be enthusiastic. Be positive. Keep up to date with relevant training to carry out your role. Be a positive role model. There may be more or fewer responsibilities expected of you depending on the role and responsibilities given to you. This may also depend on experience and confidence. You should discuss your role and responsibilities with your main contact if they become too much for you. Guide for Volunteers 5
Get Involved 6 Guide for Volunteers
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? There are many ways to get involved as a volunteer in sport but you first need to ask yourself what skills you have that could help improve the sport/club. Contact Borders Sport and Leisure and register an interest in volunteering for a particular sport. Visit our website at www.bslt.org.uk If you are a member of a club, ask them if there are any opportunities for you to get involved. Log onto Volunteer Centre Borders website at www.vcborders.org.uk and search for opportunities in your local community. Log onto the National Governing Body website for your chosen sport and see if they have any information on volunteering. Also check www.sportscotland.org.uk and www.bslt.org.uk for information on volunteering in sport. If you are interested in volunteering to help children and young people in sport and physical activity, then contact your local Active Schools Coordinator and see what opportunities they might have available. www.bslt.org.uk/schools_and_communities/active_schools/contact_us Find details at www.bslt.org.uk/schools_and_communities/ active_schools/contact_us Guide for Volunteers 7
ACTIVE SCHOOLS VOLUNTEERS The main aim of Active Schools is to offer children and young people the opportunities and motivation to adopt active healthy lifestyles, now and into adulthood. More people, more active, more often. Volunteers sit at the heart of the work of Active Schools. Without their support, the majority of Active Schools activities couldn t happen over half of the sessions that are recorded through Active Schools are led by volunteers. Volunteers are also the key to ensuring that activities are sustainable. The recruitment of a network of volunteers is highlighted as a key area of focus for Active Schools Managers and Coordinators. Recruiting new volunteers is one of the most challenging areas of work for the Active Schools network getting people to give up increasingly precious spare time to deliver school physical activity and sport isn t easy! Having said that, volunteering is one of the areas in which the network has been successful, with a substantial increase in volunteers over the last 3 years. Find details at www.bslt.org.uk/schools_and_ communities/active_schools/contact_us 8 Guide for Volunteers Recruiting volunteers is just the first stage in the process! Managers and Coordinators are also responsible for: Retaining existing volunteers and identifying progression pathways. Providing training and support to volunteers to enhance their skills and confidence. Ensuring that a safe volunteering environment is provided. Developing and supporting leadership skills for young people. The Active Schools team has a training programme that consists of a variety of basic training courses that will help increase knowledge and skills. The courses are available for parents, school teachers, school staff, community volunteers, S5/6 students, sports leaders and anyone who is generally looking to volunteer with Active Schools. The majority of the workshops run from 4pm-6pm and tend to have no cost implications if you are volunteering. Active Schools Coordinators are always on the lookout for more volunteers to help deliver activity sessions. If you re interested in finding out more about helping with Active Schools, contact your local Active Schools Coordinator.
COACHING OPPORTUNITIES Did you know that 4 out of every 5 coaches are volunteers? Volunteer coaches lead sporting activity within clubs and within local coaching and sports development programmes. Borders Sport & Leisure offer a number of services to volunteers: A generic coach education programme with subsidised courses to help coaches meet national governing body requirements at a local level, for example, Emergency First Aid courses and Child Protection workshops. A Coach Scholarship Scheme to fund volunteers through national governing body coaching courses and coach development workshops. For further information on this scheme visit: www.bslt.org.uk/sport/coaching_and_ volunteering/coach_scholarship_scheme The coach scholarship covers a multitude of coaching course options, so whatever sport you are interested in, help is at hand. Contact: Mark Forsyth Club Development Officer Borders Sport & Leisure Melrose Road Galashiels TD1 2DU mforsyth@bslt.org.uk Borders Sport & Leisure have seven target sports which are the main focus for the Sports Development Officers. In addition, disability sport cuts across all areas of Borders Sport. They can be contacted as follows: Athletics Cycling Football Hockey Rugby Swimming Tennis Disability nrenton@bslt.org.uk jmcbay@bslt.org.uk dkelly@bslt.org.uk janet.jack@scottish-hockey.org.uk brian.renwick@sru.org.uk lkennedy@bslt.org.uk aoliver@bslt.org.uk aoliver@bslt.org.uk Guide for Volunteers 9
VOLUNTEER CENTRE BORDERS ROLE? Volunteer Centre Border (VCB) is part of a national network of Volunteer Centres that: Puts people who are interested in volunteering in touch with groups that need help. Works with other organizations and groups to improve the quality of volunteering. Keeps volunteering in the public eye. Represents the interests of volunteering. Often described as a dating agency or job centre for volunteers, Volunteer Centre Borders hold an extensive database of volunteering opportunities throughout the Borders and beyond. Their staff will work with you in searching for opportunities and finding volunteering placements that suit your needs and requirements. Membership of Volunteer Centre Borders is free and open to all through a simple registration process. The Volunteer Centre also hold a wealth of information on all aspects of good practice in volunteering and can offer help and advice on a wide range of volunteering topics and issues. Contact: Volunteer Centre Borders Riverside House Ladhope Vale Galashiels TD1 1BT tel: 0845 602 3921 email: enquiries@vcborders.org.uk www.vcborders.org.uk 10 Guide for Volunteers
Recognising Volunteers Many volunteers are rewarded for the work they do for the local community. Club Sport Awards In the Scottish Borders we are fortunate to have annual awards ceremonies at each of the four Club Sport networks which recognise some of the fantastic contributions made by volunteers in the local community. These awards evenings include service to sports, coach of the year and junior coach nominations. The majority of the awards are presented to volunteers. The Saltire Awards Administered by Volunteer Centre Borders, the Saltire Awards are another way that young volunteers between the ages of 16-25 are recognized, with the opportunity to gain highly regarded, nationally recognised certification for their voluntary work. With support from the Scottish Government, this national scheme is delivered locally by Volunteer Centre Borders. Inspire Awards Created by young people and supported by Volunteer Centre Borders and Scottish Borders Council, the annual Scottish Borders Inspire Awards recognise the inspirational achievement of young people in the Borders. Categories for nomination include sport and volunteering for individuals and groups. An awards ceremony is held each year to present the Inspire Award trophies and hand certificates to the hundreds of young volunteers who receive Saltire Awards for their many hours of volunteering. These awards help organisations to: Recognise the contribution young volunteers make to their organisation through their voluntary work. Say an important thank you to volunteers for all their hard work, commitment and achievements. Demonstrate the commitment to young people in providing a quality volunteering experience. The awards are free, very simple to administer and look great on a young person s CV. Guide for Volunteers 11
CONTACT DETAILS For more information on anything in this booklet, please contact: Borders Sport & Leisure Melrose Road Galashiels TD1 2DU tel: 01896 661166 e-mail: enquiries@bslt.org.uk www.bslt.org.uk or Volunteer Centre Borders Riverside House Ladhope Vale Galashiels TD1 1BT tel: 0845 602 3921 enquiries@vcborders.org.uk www.vcborders.org.uk 12 Guide for Volunteers
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The Volunteering in Sport Guide for Volunteers, has been produced by Borders Sport & Leisure in partnership with Volunteer Centre Borders. A related guide Volunteering in Sport Guide for clubs has also been produced and is aimed primarily at providing advice to clubs and organisations. Guide for Volunteers 1