Community Action Suffolk is welcoming the arrival of Spring by celebrating volunteering.
Over this first week of Spring we will be publishing stories, tips and information on how YOU can get involved with volunteering, why it’s such an amazing thing to do and how we can help you find the perfect volunteering opportunity.
“Who are the unsung heroes behind every healthy, active and happy community across the UK? We believe that the answer is volunteers.”
Join In 2013
For many, the idea of volunteering for a sports club or event involves getting up early on a rainy Sunday to cheer on a football team or making sure the tea is brewed in time for the end of a game.
But what if we told you that there are all sorts of opportunities to get involved and further develop your skills, such as helping with marketing, budgeting, cooking or even playing an instrument – and make a positive impact on your local community as well?!
All too often, family and friends end up filling all of these roles simply because there is no one else to do it. Not only does this mean that clubs aren’t being run as efficiently as they could with skilled help, but family and friends naturally come and go with club members. Sports clubs are increasingly determining how to involve ‘external’ volunteers and, in turn, make their clubs more efficient and a sustainable part of the community.
“It’s the local volunteers who help out in community sports clubs providing the backbone to sport in the UK… Seven out of ten sports club tell us they still need more people helping out, ready and willing to do the little things that make a big difference.”
Join In 2013
Whether you feel at home with a clipboard and a loud speaker or you prefer to flex your design muscles by working on a website or a poster, your skills, time and energy are desperately sought after by sports clubs and events across the county – so here’s how to get involved.
- Volunteer roles that sports clubs commonly need to fill:
- Committee members (secretary, treasurer, chairperson, etc)
- Marketing (posters, website, social media, etc)
- Kit makers
- Caterers
- First aid
- Stewards
- Mentors
- Printers
- Coordinators
Community Action Suffolk’s Sport and Event Volunteering Project supports sports clubs and events to find suitable volunteers, and help volunteers find sports clubs to become involved with.
In 2013 over 350 volunteers facilitated over 2000 hours of volunteering at more than 50 sport and cultural events across Suffolk, and we plan to increase this number in 2014 by working more closely with sports clubs and creating longer-term volunteer opportunities.
If you or someone you know is part of a sports club in Suffolk that could benefit from volunteers or you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, contact Laura:
Laura Mather, Sport and Event Volunteering Project Officer
[email protected]
01473 261118
Community Action Suffolk can help you find the perfect volunteering opportunity, whether you’ve just a couple of hours to give, or you would like to commit to something longer. Visit our volunteering pages to find out more, or contact [email protected]