Manage Volunteers - Volunteering - LIVING SPORT

Manage Volunteers

The secret behind every successful sports club is a network of motivated people fulfilling key roles. Most clubs need more volunteers and there are a number of things your club can do to find more volunteers.  You could:

• Appoint a Club Volunteer Coordinator who can manage your volunteers and recruit new ones to your club. Workshops, for example Valuing your Sports Volunteer, are run by www.runningsports.org
• Advertise locally, in leisure centres, local shops and post offices outlining the roles that you need. Clear guidelines are available (below). Although it may seem rather formal, this will make them comfortable with their role and more likely to stay for longer. It also helps the club to have a clear structure for how it should operate.
• Knowing exactly what is required for your club to operate can help you recruit further volunteers, as you will know what skills are required for each role. It will also enable you to identify tasks which aren’t being done, and even share different roles between a number of different people.
• Develop the volunteers you already have. It's important to talk to your volunteers and check they are happy with their roles and how they are being managed.  Check that volunteers know what is expected of them and be sure they know what they can expect from you.  Do they want to do something different, more variety or more guidance and feedback from the club?  www.runningsports.co.uk have a useful document on rewarding volunteers - see below.
• Volunteer Centres can put people in touch with clubs who need volunteers and you can advertise your vacancies on www.do-it.org.uk. Clubs need to register with their local centre (list below), which might also be able to provide advice and support on working with volunteers. 
• Think about recruiting young volunteers to help your club.The Step into Sport programme targets 14-19 year olds by providing a simple framework of co-ordinated opportunities at a local level. For more details, please visit the Youth Sport Trust website or alternatively, go to the Cambridge School Sports Partnership website. 
• We ask clubs to fill out a placement checklist which asks whether your club has the following in place:
• Appropriate insurance
• Lead coaches who are qualified and CRB checked
• Self-disclosure forms in place for all other members
• Risk assessments in place for each activity
• Access to a qualified First Aider and First Aid kit
• Child Protection & Equal Opportunities Policies

If you don't have all these in place yet, LIVING SPORT can help and support you through the process

Volunteering England www.volunteering.org.uk is an independent voluntary agency dedicated to volunteering and covers all aspects of volunteering.  Their aim is to support and increase the quality, quantity, impact and accessibility of volunteering throughout England and their work links research, policy innovation, good practice and grant making in the involvement of volunteers. This web site offers a range of resources for anyone who works with or manages volunteers as well as those who what to volunteer.

Local Volunteer Centres

Royston & District

Tel: 01763 243 020

Email: info@roystonvolunteer.org.uk

Website: www.roystonvolunteer.org.uk

Cambridge & District

Tel: 01223 356 549

Email: info@cam-volunteer.org.uk

Website: www.cam-volunteeer.org.uk

Ely & District

Tel: 01353 666 556

Email: avril@vcaec.org.uk

Website: www.vcaec.org.uk

Fenland

Fenland Tel: 01945 582 192

Email: fenlandvb@btconnect.com

Website: www.fenlandvb.org.uk

Huntingdon

Tel: 01480 482 440

Email: huntsvolunteercentre@googlemail.com

Website: www.huntingdonshirevolunteercentre.co.uk

Peterborough

Tel: 01733 311 016

Email: annette.atkinson@pcvs.co.uk

Website: www.pcvs.co.uk

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