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Tag: Volunteers’ Week

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Shortlist announced for Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award 2016

To conclude our Volunteers’ Week celebrations we are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award 2016.

 

This annual award recognises and celebrates the contribution made by Sported’s volunteers to the charity’s work, the growth of its 3,000-plus members, and the development of the Sport for Development sector as a whole.

 

Congratulations to the following Sported volunteers who have been nominated for this year’s award by their respective National or Regional Manager.

 

Alan Smith – Scotland

David Smith – South West

Jonathan Fearon – Yorkshire & Humberside

Kathryn Josselyn – London

Ken Johnson – North West

Lee Butler – South East

Linda Narbeth – Wales

Martyn Brawn – West Midlands

Paul Bayman – North East

Roger Gochin – East of England

Roy Roberts – East Midlands

Wendy Robinson – Northern Ireland

 

The award commemorates the life of former Sported employee, Vanessa Brown, who sadly passed away in June 2014. During her time at Sported, Vanessa was instrumental in laying the foundations for the charity and helping Sir Keith Mills realise his vision of a UK-wide membership organisation for the Sport for Development sector.

 

The winner of the Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award 2016 will be announced at a special celebratory dinner at the House of Lords on Tuesday 5th July 2016.

 

Chris Grant, Chief Executive at Sported, said: “It’s fitting that in the week when we celebrate the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK, that we express our gratitude to Sported’s own army of volunteers. The impact of their time, effort and support is felt far beyond the walls of our members’ clubs. It’s not an exaggeration to say that directly because of their selfless work, thousands of young people from some of our most disadvantaged communities have been afforded life changing opportunities.

 

He adds: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those nominated and to thank every one of Sported’s 250 volunteers, without who our work would simply not be possible.”

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Will Greenwood celebrates Volunteers’ Week with sporteducate

Former England rugby international and World Cup winner, Will Greenwood, got into the spirit of Volunteers’ Week yesterday, when he paid a special visit to Hackney to volunteer with young people benefitting from Deutsche Bank and Sported’s joint sporteducate programme.

 

sporteducate is a unique programme developed by the charity Sported in partnership with Deutsche Bank’s Born to Be programme, which is helping young people from some of London’s poorest boroughs to achieve their potential in life through a combined programme of sport and education or employability sessions.

 

Thanks to funding and support from the programme, 33 youth club and sports clubs in London have been able to introduce education and employability sessions alongside their traditional sporting activities, thereby creating fun and accessible educational opportunities in the heart of local communities.

 

As a Sported ambassador, Greenwood took time out of his busy schedule to give 30 young people from sporteducate clubs a rugby masterclass. For many, it was the first time they have picked up a rugby ball. Delivering coaching alongside coaches from Hackney RFC, the World Cup winner gave an insight into the qualities it takes to succeed on the pitch and in the classroom.

 

Will Greenwood, Sported ambassador, said: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the passion and commitment of the volunteer coaches at my local rugby club. Volunteers play a key role at grassroots, not just coaching young people to play sports, but offering life guidance and support.”

 

He added: “sporteducate offers young people a real leg-up and some fantastic opportunities to get ahead with their educations and future careers. It’s been a real privilege getting stuck in with the training and meeting such an energetic and talented bunch. Hopefully I’ve whetted their appetites of what’s to come with the World Cup!”

 

In keeping with Volunteers’ Week, an annual event which celebrates the contribution made by millions of volunteers across the UK, Greenwood was joined by employee volunteers from Deutsche Bank. Volunteering plays a key role in sporteducate, with Deutsche Bank employees lending their expertise to community clubs across London, from offering one-to-one mentoring and running CV workshops to lending club leaders free business support and advice.

 

Ellie from sporteducate member group, SkyWay, said: “I’m really pleased I came today, I nearly didn’t. I don’t follow rugby and this was my first time playing so I’m really happy to be given the MVP award. I can’t wait to show my mum my medal. I’m looking forward to watching the World Cup in a few months – I might even start playing myself.”

 

Tom Williams, sporteducate volunteer at Deutsche Bank, said: “It’s not every day you get the chance to volunteer with a World Cup winner! I have to say it was very rewarding to see so many of them enjoying it. There were a few reluctant and shy faces when they first turned up but within minutes Will had them bonding, laughing, energised and generally having a great time. That has to go down as the most fun 46 people can have on a five a side pitch.”

 

Justin Haywood, sporteducate volunteer at Deutsche Bank, said: “Being outdoors and seeing the smiles on the children’s faces made my day. The sense of inclusion, competitiveness and utter joy was very clearly evident.”

 

For more information about Hackney RFU and playing opportunities in Hackney, please visit:

www.hackneybulls.co.uk

www.hackneyrfc.co.uk

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Shortlist for inaugural Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award announced

Sported is delighted to announce the first 12 volunteer mentors to be nominated for the inaugural Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award.

 

The award was launched this year to celebrate the life of Vanessa Brown – a much loved Sported staff member and friend – who sadly passed away a year ago today.

 

Vanessa enjoyed a long career in the community sport sector and left an amazing legacy at Sported. Her early work and dedication helping Sir Keith Mills realise his vision of establishing a UK-wide network of community groups using Sport for Development has resulted in the amazing charity that you see today.

 

The annual award recognises the outstanding contribution made by Sported’s volunteer mentors to the growth and development of the charity’s 3,000-plus members. Each of Sported’s 12 Regional and National Managers had the very difficult task of narrowing down and nominating just one volunteer from their respective region to be shortlisted for this year’s award.

 

After much deliberation, Sported is proud to name the following shortlist for the Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award 2015:

 

Amanda McDonald – West Midlands

Anas Hassan – London

Clive Barnard – Wales

Derek May – North West

Frank McGlone – Northern Ireland

John Horton – South East

Maggie Pankhurst – East Midlands

Martin Briggs – South West

Martin Corck – East

Neil Rutherford – Scotland

Peter Lodge – Yorkshire & Humberside                    

Sue Martin – North East

 

The inaugural winner of the Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award will be selected by a guest panel of judges and will be announced at a special celebratory dinner at the House of Lords on Tuesday 14 July 2015.

 

Sir Keith Mills, founder and chairman of trustees of Sported, said: “It is a great honour to celebrate the life of our much missed friend and colleague with the launch of the Vanessa Brown Volunteer Award.

 

I had the pleasure of working closely with Vanessa for many years, and will always remember her incredible warmth, humour and passion for all things sport. It’s a fitting tribute then, that we recognise the contribution she made to Sported by honouring another special group of people – our volunteer mentors. These unsung heroes remain central to Sported’s work as a charity and thanks to their efforts young people across the UK are being given unique opportunities to transform their lives. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteer mentors and to congratulate those shortlisted.”