This is the second in a series of articles, where we talk to people in various roles who contribute to the success of runningsports. Following our recent chat with Senior Tutor Simon Kirkland we thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to one of our workshop organisers, a valued group of people known as runningsports Official Partners.
Alex Thompson is the Workforce Development Officer for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport (CSW Sport), one of the 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) throughout the country. His responsibilities include running the Community Sports Coach Scheme for the Partnership, and leading on workforce development planning and volunteering. Working closely with his colleague the School Club Links Development Officer, he sees support for volunteers as a core role for the Partnership. He enjoys his role, because as he puts it, he ‘can get out and make a difference in the local sporting community’.
This all makes Alex a big fan of runningsports, and particularly the workshops the portfolio provides, and thinks the fact that volunteers get to take something away that they can put into practice is what makes them so popular. ‘They are powerful because club people listen to other club people and share best practice regardless of which sport they are involved in. The workshops provide the perfect environment for this to happen and the end result is that clubs develop in a positive way.’
The importance of recognising the valuable contributions of volunteers in sports clubs is something Alex appreciates. A rugby volunteer (as well as a player) himself, Alex recently received the Clubman of the Year award at Camp Hill RFC for his work in helping the club gain their Year 2 Seal of Approval (Clubmark) from the Rugby Football Union, and for a successful funding bid for club improvements.
We asked Alex about the opportunities that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games presents for volunteering, and he thinks that volunteers will be hugely motivated by the opportunity of being a part of such historic events. His advice to people is that the organisers will be looking for an experienced workforce ‘so start building your volunteering CV now’.
If Alex and his colleagues have anything to do with it, Network Members in the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire area will certainly have all the experience and knowledge they need to play their part in the success not just of their local sport but also in relation to any Olympic opportunities that might come their way.
Network Members in the rest of the country can contact their local CSP for support with all aspects of sports volunteering and also support for voluntary sports clubs. For links to all 49 CSPs and help from people like Alex, visit the Sport England website.
And why not try one of the workshops that Alex rates so highly? For more information on all the runningsports workshops click here.
