FREE 2012 Sports Volunteering workshop

Sports organisations hoping to attract volunteers for Olympic themed projects in 2012 are being invited to a workshop where they can promote their plans and get expert advice on the best approach.

The 2012 Games are expected to generate thousands of volunteering opportunities, both around running the sporting events themselves as well as Olympic-inspired community and sporting projects in the future, which organisers hope, will be the Games’ lasting legacy.

It is estimated that around 70,000 volunteers will be needed to run the London-based events but there will also be events and training for visiting athletes using sports venues in Staffordshire where help will be needed.

The workshop at the Bridge Centre, in Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent on October 12th is open to all voluntary and community groups who would like to use the opportunity that the 2012 Olympics provides, to increase the diversity of volunteers involved in their own activities. Led by staff from national governing body, Volunteering England in partnership with YouthNet, it will look at how best to market current volunteering opportunities, how to create new, Olympic inspired opportunities and how to encourage wider participation from people of all backgrounds.

Tracy Ellis, Co-ordinator for North Staffordshire Volunteer Centres, which is facilitating the workshop, said: “The countdown has begun to the 2012 Games which are just two years away. It might sound a long time away but the sooner people start thinking about Olympic-themed events and the ways that they can inspire people to volunteer locally, the better.

“For example, Walk North Staffordshire, a healthy walk scheme, is looking to get people to do 20 walks in 12 months – giving a 2012 figure- and this will need more volunteer walk leaders.

We would like to develop hundreds of ideas like this to celebrate the Olympics, both during the Games and afterwards, fostering community sports, cultural, environmental and arts events. All are going to need volunteers to help run them – individuals who may be attracted to volunteering for the very first time.”

The workshop in October is the ideal opportunity for voluntary and community organisations that would like to use the spirit of the Olympics to inspire new local volunteering opportunities and increase the number of people volunteering.

For more information on the event and to receive booking details, contact North Staffordshire Volunteer Centres on 01538 398240 or by email at northstaffsvolunteering@smcvs.co.uk

Chris Turner
Club Development Manager
T: 01785 619681
E: cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk