With some 2 million people in England volunteering an hour of their time each week to help run sporting activities, there must be more referees out there than players! However, in order for sports clubs and community centres to truly capitalise on the strength of their volunteers, they need a reliable support system and ready access to management resources. The need for such support is reflected in the growing number of volunteer managers who turn to runningsports for guidance – a programme created and funded by Sport England, which provides a number of free learning resources and tutored workshops.
Louise Mullen had been a voluntary worker at the Vernon Sangster Community Sports Centre in Merseyside for several years before she heard about runningsports through the voluntary youth organisation Clubs for Young People. Louise explains, “Although all the volunteers at Vernon Sangster are incredibly passionate about the centre, I felt that we might not be maximising their potential and therefore not enabling the club to grow and progress as it should. I needed confirmation that we were driving the club in the right direction and also wanted guidance on how to solve issues that I was sure were symptomatic of many other local sports clubs.’
“For example, as with virtually every sports centre, attendance at Vernon Sangster fluctuates significantly, experiencing major peaks during the school holidays. It’s at this time that volunteers are most in demand and stress levels can soar. We were keen to find out how other clubs prepare for these busy periods but weren’t sure how to start approaching them.’
It is with people like Louise in mind that the runningsports portfolio was developed. Created in consultation with sports professionals and volunteer agencies, the portfolio builds on previous schemes from Sport England to provide support and skills for sports volunteers. If enthusiasm is channelled and combined with the right tools, tactics and techniques, sports organisations can realise their full potential. runningsports portfolio is specifically targeted at making all this happen. The portfolio includes:
- This website with free resources including Top Tips, best practice guides, volunteer case studies and a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section.
- Quick Guides covering a range of topics that have an impact on sports volunteers and suggestions on how to implement solutions
- Workbooks which take a practical, hands-on approach with activities that allow volunteers to deal with issues their sports team, club or community organisation is facing
- Workshops for all sports dealing with the issues facing the volunteer workforce delivered by accredited tutors with knowledge and relevant experience in the topic areas.
It was this last element that Louise found particularly beneficial when she attended a runningsports workshop entitled “Valuing Your Sports Volunteers”.
“Attending the runningsports workshop showed me that managing volunteers at any club or centre well will not only benefit the facility but also make everyone’s job or role less stressful and more enjoyable. Our tutor demonstrated how to make volunteers aware of how crucial their contribution is to the success of the centre, how to anticipate busy periods at the club and thus minimise stress and how to provide staff with relevant training and resources.’
“The workshop also provided a platform to meet volunteers from local sports clubs and discuss common problems under the guidance of our runningsports tutor, which significantly lessened our feelings of isolation and helplessness. It’s made us all aware that our individual clubs and centres serve a greater community purpose and that we can provide for that community much better when we work as team. Furthermore, many of the ideas that emerged from discussions at the workshop about how to increase volunteer enthusiasm and manage volunteer hours have consequently been implemented at the club with tangible results.”
Today, Vernon Sangster Community Sports Centre enjoys a flourishing attendance as volunteers are happier and feel their time is used to the maximum benefit of the club. Staffing during peak periods is planned well in advance leaving volunteers less stressed and free to concentrate on improving club facilities. So if you’re involved in managing a club and would like to learn more about getting and keeping volunteers, being open to all members of the community, getting tax breaks, or working up a club development plan, Louise Mullen proves it really is possible to make some substantial changes fairly simply.
