Volunteers' Week 2021 - Celebrating our Sported volunteers
By Sported | 4th June 2021
Volunteers’ Week (1st – 7th June) is a great opportunity to say thank you, and at Sported, we’re taking this week to celebrate and highlight our amazing team of our volunteers who provide invaluable support to our members across the UK.
From a range of backgrounds with expertise in fundraising, marketing, governance, and more, our team of over 330 volunteers have an incredible impact on the grassroots sports groups in our network. The last year has been particularly tough for groups, and Sported volunteers have helped in a multitude of ways.
We recently caught up with some of volunteers who told us more about the ways that they support Sported members and why they volunteer.
Barbara Anim
Why did you get involved with Sported and how long have you been a Sported volunteer?
To be part of the invaluable change being made by Sported Foundation UK in my community. To actively show in a tangible way that a little bit of help goes a long way, especially to those who may have unsurmountable barriers to cross. I have been with Sported since October 2019.
How do you support our members?
Firstly, as a Leadership Coach supporting member groups’ leaders to develop their skills in people management, conflict resolution, work/life balance and overall best leadership practices.
Secondly, as mentor to support our groups to build their capacity and become more sustainable in their everyday lives.
What do you enjoy about volunteering with Sported and supporting our members?
As a trusted guide, I enjoy the continuous victories and lessons learned that comes about as individuals and groups make transformational changes in their way of thinking, their lifestyle and outlook on life. It is beautiful when people are empowered to make choices they would normally be too afraid to make.
Why did you get involved with Sported and how long have you been a Sported volunteer?
My younger son, Arthur, had been a member of a couple of sports clubs and I saw (albeit from a distance) how reliant they were on volunteers, donations and so on, and what an amazing and challenging effort it all was. So, when I was asked by John Heraghty, the first Scotland Manager, I was delighted to be in the first cohort of volunteers!
How do you support our members?
I’ve always been a volunteer mentor; it’s about listening to what are the needs of the company and then if appropriate, offer advice and support – a couple of times now I’ve mentored a group to get its first strategic plan in place. My value is not to try to manage from a distance, but to offer more of a governance perspective (taking a step back from the day-to-day).
What do you enjoy about volunteering with Sported and supporting our members?
I enjoy meeting amazing people – I know I couldn’t do what they do week in week out, so anything I can do to support them is an honour.
David Williams
Derek May
Why did you get involved with Sported and how long have you been a Sported volunteer?
I’ve been involved for about 10 years and that involvement started soon after we moved home to Manchester city centre and I was looking to find a new voluntary activity. I’d previously been a business mentor for the Prince’s Trust in Cheshire. I recall I saw some form of advert for Sported Mentors and given my long-standing sports participation and roles I’d had in the past in cricket, tennis and squash clubs a mentoring role with Sported was of much interest.
How do you support our members?
Most of my support has been provided on a long-term basis, helping get an organisation ready for long-term funding and assisting it through the fundraising process and, in some cases, continuing to work with it on implementation. Some of this support has been very hands-on. A common theme running through my assignments has been trying to help get the organisation to a place where it is sustainable on a governance, managerial and financial basis.
What do you enjoy about volunteering with Sported and supporting our members?
Some of the assignments have been challenging and far from guaranteed to be successful, so to be able to sign-off from an assignment with the organisation in a great place is a source of satisfaction. Equally enjoyable are the friendships formed and the insights gained into community social issues.
Why did you get involved with Sported and how long have you been a Sported volunteer?
I became a Sported Volunteer in May 2020. I was looking for an opportunity to continue to use my professional skills after I had retired. Looking through various volunteering opportunities, I was drawn to the work which Sported does in supporting grassroots clubs to provide opportunities for their members.
How do you support our members?
During the last year, I have undertaken a number of Kickstart calls with members to help target support where it can be most effective. I am part of the Wales Member Engagement Pilot Project and through this am building up a working relationship with a small group of clubs in my local area to work with them on an ongoing basis. Recently, I have successfully supported a club nationally to access funding to help them get back on track following Covid.
What do you enjoy about volunteering with Sported and supporting our members?
I enjoy talking with the many wonderful people who lead groups with such dedication and enthusiasm. It is a pleasure to support the great work they do and rewarding to be part of their success. It has also given me an opportunity to feel part of a team with the Sported staff and the network of wonderful volunteers.
Kerry Feather
Rami Varsani
What do you enjoy about volunteering with Sported and supporting our members?
It has been really rewarding to be able to share my skills with others outside of my organisation and also have the opportunity to interact with individuals that are so passionate about helping others in their community and knowing that I have been able to support that, even in a small way, makes it so worthwhile.
Why did you get involved with Sported and how long have you been a Sported volunteer?
I first became aware of Sported via Santander’s Social Mobility Network and when I went onto the Sported website and saw the amazing work that is done by all the different groups involved – I was really intrigued to find out more.
I joined one of the induction sessions which was run by the Sported team in December 2020 – I initially thought that you would need to have some sort of knowledge about sports groups which I didn’t really have – but it was really great to find out that the skills and matching process was completely linked to what I would be able to offer a group – things such as staff planning, social media support and business planning.
How do you support our members?
I am currently supporting with Light Touch (short term) Placements. I have been working with a member who is looking to expand their initiatives. I was a little nervous to begin with as I really wasn’t sure how I would support but from my first meeting with the member – I found he just wanted to have a sounding board for the ideas he had and what he wanted to set up. We actually ended up chatting for well over an hour – I was so impressed with all the ideas he had – he just wanted some guidance and hints and tips on how he could put them into practice and start his plan.
It was just incredible to interact with someone so passionate about helping people and just wanting someone that could give a little direction.
On behalf of our members and staff, thank you to the brilliant Sported volunteers whose support makes a huge difference to grassroots groups all over the UK.