Volunteering

Sports volunteers have been described by Sport England as the "lifeblood of sport" and as providing "the foundations of our sporting nation". 

The Framework for Sport in England (2003) highlights the roles of volunteers as one of the "key drivers of change" necessary for sport to achieve its target of getting more people participating in sport and widening access to sport and physical activity.

Results from the Active People Survey 2006, state that 4.6% of adults in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent contribute at least one hour a week of volunteering to sport compared to 4.7% regionally and nationally.

Based on the 2001 Census and mid population estimate figures from 2006, this equates to approximately 39,292 adults in Staffordshire, currently volunteering their time to support the development and delivery of opportunities for sport in the sub-region for at least an hour a week.

SASSOT recognises that the critical role of volunteers is fundamental for sport to continue to thrive throughout the sub-region and the need for better support and investment in the volunteer workforce.

The challenge for sports clubs is to recruit the expected increase in the number of volunteers to meet the needs of the growing numbers of people wishing to participate in sport.

SASSOT need to maximise this natural resource through working with National Governing Bodies to attract and retain more volunteers, reduce the burdens faced by volunteers and ensure professional support enhances voluntary systems. SASSOT will also need to work with the broader voluntary sector and partners such as the Volunteer Development Agencies within the sub-region to ensure that best practice is being appropriately deployed within the sport sector.

If sport is to sustain the enthusiasm and expertise of all those who give their time so willingly to sport in the area, it is essential that this plan is in place to ensure that this invaluable workforce and the future generations of volunteers are appropriately trained, deployed, supported and motivated in a coordinated approach.

For details of projects and organisations that could potentially provide access to new volunteers please click on the links below

• Step into Sport
• Council for Voluntary Service
• Resources for Managing Volunteers - Good Practice Bank
• SASSOT Education and Training workshop programme
• SASSOT Club Support Plan

Why should you volunteer?

By giving your time you can develop in lots of different ways - gain experience in a variety of different roles, network with key organisations, improve your life skills, make yourself more employable and lots more!