practical support for training and competitions, there's a huge amount of work ... massive difference to the club. ... E
Sports volunteering in your pyjamas! Jess Lightfoot
As a former competitive trampolinist, I’m keen to give something back to my sport and to support the next generation. I’m a qualified trampoline coach and competition judge, but I’ve now also discovered the ideal way to contribute to the sport from the comfort of my own home. I’ve been volunteering with Sparta Trampoline Club since April 2015. I live in Edinburgh and Sparta is in Glasgow – unfortunately that’s too far for me to travel on a regular basis. I’m therefore a Trustee for the club, which became an SCIO in July 2016, and aside from attending a few committee meetings each year I do all my volunteering from home. At our last club competition volunteers were involved in setting out chairs, running the tombola, setting up and packing down equipment, judging and scoring... Be it a local sports club or an event like European Championships 2018, there are lots of tasks required on the athletics track, at the side of the pool or in the sports hall. But in addition to the fantastic volunteers who provide practical support for training and competitions, there’s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to keep sports clubs running. From completing competition entry forms to ordering club clothing, from writing business plans and funding applications to managing the club membership lists. There’s also social media posts and club newsletters, and there are fundraising activities, which can be as large or small as the time volunteers are able to contribute. The list is almost endless!
Sports volunteering in your pyjamas! Jess Lightfoot
At Sparta, we share out all these tasks so that each volunteer contributes in ways that best suit their availability, skills and experience. Everyone volunteers from home, since these tasks can be done anywhere with a computer and an internet connection. And this gives us flexibility to fit volunteering in when we can; I volunteer when dinner’s in the oven, at the weekend when I’m still in my pyjamas or on the train during my commute to work. It feels like really good use of my time and I know it makes a massive difference to the club. So if you’ve got organisational or communication skills that you could share with your local sports club, or if you’re a sports club looking for help with admin, fundraising and social media, think about how volunteering could work for you. Any contribution large or small, even in pyjamas on the sofa, can make a difference to your sport! In my paid career, I work for Volunteer Scotland supporting volunteer managers across the country. There’s lots of guidance available for sports clubs to effectively involve volunteers. Glasgow Sport offers support to clubs, coaches and volunteers based within Glasgow. Sparta have received help with funding, volunteer training, venues and marketing. If you are searching for a volunteer role or if your club is recruiting volunteers visit volunteersport.glasgowlife.org.uk or contact staff to discuss how they can help. Email:
[email protected] Phone: 0141 287 4681
