The following key points, drawn from debate and discussion at this workshop, were identified by attendees as those which they would like to see included and reflected in the forthcoming Regional Sports Volunteering Strategy.

Though not in any order of priority they are set out under two headings: (a) Key actions to be led and coordinated at a regional level (b) Key Actions to be led at a sub-regional/local level but supported at regional level.

(a) Key actions to be led and coordinated at a regional level

Legacy of Community Gain

It was regarded as a critical priority to build and support volunteering in organisations at community level, both in relation to sports volunteering and broader related areas e.g. health. As a result an additional legacy – that of ‘Community Gain’ - should be included in any Regional Sports Volunteering Strategy, demonstrating a key value at the heart of that strategy and complementing existing legacy areas.

Influencing, Lobbying and campaigning

In order to build and maximize the legacy and sustainability of sports volunteering it was critical that a lobbying, influencing and campaigning role be undertaken at a regional level. This will provide added value and collaborative voices to support and resource volunteering in the long term as a contribution to the economic, social and environmental health and cohesion of the region. This regional role is also critical in informing and working with national lobbying and influencing organisations.

Strengthen the Interface between Sports and Generalist Volunteering

Whilst work should be led at a sub-regional and local level (see under (b) below) work at a regional level should encourage and signpost local and sub-regional collaboration and synergy between generalist volunteering infrastructure and sports NGBs, organisations and clubs.

National/ Regional/ Sub Regional Links

Clear strategic pathways should be developed at a regional level linking and signposting to national, regional, sub-regional and local policies and programmes and relevant organisations and agencies.

Promotion & Marketing

Promotion of volunteering and volunteering opportunities remains essential at a local and sub-regional level. However they add significant value at a regional level with the purposes of challenging and changing often poor and negative images of and attitudes to volunteering; supporting a positive culture of volunteering; bringing in new volunteers; providing recognition of the contribution they make to their communities and leading to sustainable volunteering. The identification of a high-profile sports person advocating and promoting opportunities for volunteering on behalf of the West Midlands is also proposed. 

Shared Best Practice

There are significant good/best practices related to volunteering and sports volunteering within the West Midlands and in other regions. The promotion and publication of such practice at a regional level offers added value and would be instrumental in promoting effective images of volunteering.

Coordinating Sponsorship

The business sector is likely to prefer coordinated approaches to sponsorship rather than single sponsorship approaches from each of the sub regions. It is important that potential benefactors receive one single approach, and this can best be led at regional level.

(b) Key Actions to be led at a sub-regional/local level but supported at regional level

Co-ordination and shared use of resources

There is limited effective co-ordination of resources (e.g. information, intelligence, training) between generalist third sector infrastructure organisations and specialist sports organisations. Developing such arrangements is best done at a local and sub-region level – possibly through work between SASSOT and generalist infrastructure organisations e.g. SCIO. However support and encouragement at a regional level for synergy of partnership working should be reflected in a regional sports volunteering strategy.

Capacity

There is a significant gap in capacity and associated resourcing in relation to co-ordination and synergy of partnerships, programmes and activities at a sub-regional and local level. Regionally there is a role to support the sub regions to make funding bids to reduce the ‘capacity gap’.

Volunteer Training and Support

It is important to improve accessibility by potential and existing volunteers and sports organisations/clubs to high quality, locally based generalist training and support packages – particularly to volunteer management and to enhance governance and related skill sets.

Support in engaging other agencies

Regionally there should be support for engagement with other key agencies such as health bodies including PCTs and skills bodies such as the Learning & Skills Council and the developing West Midlands National Skills Academy. Such regional support could include regional evidence to identify the benefit to such bodies of contributing resources to volunteering infrastructure and payoff in terms of targets.

For further information please contact Matt Kendall, West Midlands Regional Sports Volunteer Co-ordinator for 2012 on 0121 359 9116 or matthewk@rawm.co.uk