Introduction
Past research carried out by Scope and Leonard Cheshire suggests that only 6% of disabled people regularly volunteer within the community compared to 21% of non-disabled people. If more disabled people volunteered within sport then more disabled people would participate and clubs would be more equitable, inclusive and representative of our community.
There are 8.6 million disabled people in the UK and with an ageing population that figure is set to increase so it should follow that more disabled people will be available for volunteering in the future. For both disabled and non-disabled people volunteering is an excellent pathway to employment and with only around one third of disabled people currently in employment there is an incredible opportunity to provide disabled people with the experience they need to get one step further towards an interesting and rewarding career.
| The Benefits of Recruiting Disabled Volunteers |
| Experience and Skills | Disabled people have a different life experience to non-disabled people and will have knowledge and problem-solving skills, which enable them to overcome barriers throughout their lives. |
| Diversity | According to the DDA disabled people make up around 25% of the UK population; your club should be representative of the community and support equality and inclusion for all. |
| Development | Including disabled people, as volunteers will provide disabled people with an opportunity to develop their skills, gain experience and increase their employment opportunities. |
| Positive Role Models | Disabled people can be positive and proactive role models especially to young people having overcome adversity and barriers to participation or involvement in sport. |
| Reputation | Involving disabled volunteers can only enhance the reputation of your club to be inclusive and promoting equality to encourage more disabled people to participate in sport. |
Barriers to Sports Volunteering
Every disabled person’s needs are different but it is not a legal requirement under the DDA for any organisation to meet with every disabled person’s personal requirements. It is, therefore important to consult and involve disabled people to identify and remove their barriers to volunteering. As a general rule, however here is a list of common barriers with some suggested solutions.
| Barrier to Volunteering | Suggested Solutions |
| Access | - Accessibility; parking, signage, changing facilities/toilets, doors, no lift or ramp, lighting etc.
| - Signs ideally in large print, symbols and Braille; are doors wide enough for wheelchairs? Emergency evacuation chairs & refuge points; accessible changing facilities that will accommodate both men and women (carer or PA may be different sex to the disabled person)
|
| Financial | - Potentially extra cost of transport and/or personal assistant/ carer to attend with them i.e. signer.
| - Larger disability charities may fund expenses for your inclusive volunteer policy (eg: see www.scope.org.uk) Consider upfront payment or ensure expenses are repaid promptly. Confirm both parties are happy with your expenses policy.
|
| Transport | - How to get to the club? Can the person drive? Is there public/community transport? Extra cost etc.
| - Develop links with local community transport and volunteer driver’s schemes. Discuss deals with local taxi firms
|
| Communication | - Staff unable to communicate clearly, marketing material not in alternative formats, poor signage, BSL user etc.
| - Ensure all staff attend basic disability awareness training (see www.efds.co.uk).
- Marketing material available in accessible formats
|
| Attitudinal, Social and Psychological | - First impressions, perceptions, stereotyping and assumptions, people’s lack of understanding, ‘health and safety risk’.
| - Basic disability awareness training (see above).
- Ensure all staff are aware of the volunteer scheme and respect and support its purpose.
- Use a volunteer coordinator to centrally coordinate a successful scheme.
|
Engaging with Disabled Volunteers
When advertising your volunteering opportunities ensure that your marketing communication is accessible to disabled people. Most national disability charities will provide information on their website on how to communicate effectively with disabled people. Also, proactively target the volunteering placement to disabled people i.e., within disability specific press or websites, or in your local volunteer bureau or advocacy centre.
As with engaging with any volunteer have a clear volunteer role outline, carry out an induction and provide ongoing training and support. A volunteer coordinator will provide the scheme with the support and time it needs to be competently run and therefore lead to properly trained and motivated volunteers. Appreciated volunteers tend to stay longer in their placements.
Further Information
This website has other useful resources including Quick Guides “The Disability Discrimination Act” and “Volunteers”, along with other downloadable Top Tips, Role Outlines and information on available training including workshops and workbooks. Alternatively, telephone the runningsports Hotline on 0800 363373.
Other Organisations Worth Checking Out
These Top Tips are intended as a general guide, based on legislation at the time of publication. Neither runningsports, its staff, the authors nor reviewers can accept any liability for any loss arising as a result of reliance upon the information contained herein. Readers are strongly advised to obtain professional advice on an individual basis.
