A 2012 Volunteering Legacy - a Suffolk perspective!A volunteering legacy for Suffolk, inspired by the 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Gamesmike.mccarthy@communityactionsuffolk.org.u

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Media coverage 29th July 2013

This presentation will focus upon:

• The initial ambition• The nuts and bolts• Outcomes – What has been achieved• Lessons learned• Legacy of the legacy!

Aims of the project

• To increase the number of people who volunteer within sport, cultural and community events

• Increase the number of quality events volunteering opportunities available

• To make these opportunities more accessible to a wider group of potential volunteers

• To involve volunteers from a wider cross section of Suffolk’s increasingly diverse population

These were to be achieved by

Establishing, training and supporting a team of events volunteers

Setting up and maintaining a Calendar of events Enabling sport and community organisations to

further develop good practiceLiaising with the VC Network across the countyEncouraging and facilitating local Games Time

volunteers at London 2012

Why set up a ‘2012’ legacy project?

• Shortage of volunteers in sport • Increasing demand for volunteers at large

events across the county• Sport not very well ‘linked into’ the rest of the

volunteering sector • Maximise the opportunities offered by London

2012 in terms of promoting volunteering – An opportunity too good to be missed!

Challenges for this project were

• Economic climate – the cuts!• Decline/re-organisation of CSN’s• Different perceptions about ‘2012’ – Some

people were really up for it and others….!• Tradition of how sport recruits volunteers and

how sport volunteers see themselves• How the volunteering sector see sport – ‘they

tend to sort themselves out’, ‘they don’t need our help’

• How to increase the accessibility to volunteering

Nuts and bolts of the Project

• Legacy Officer• Website with an Events Calendar

www.suffolkvolunteeringlegacy.org.uk • County Events Team of volunteers• Based in the VCS with the support of key

partners• Managed through a Steering Group

County Events Team

• On line registration for volunteers• Development of an Events Calendar• One-off volunteering opportunities• Clearly defined roles and commitment • Principle of informed choice• Induction and training provided• Quality control – Volunteer Agreement and

Guidelines for Event Organisers

• Encouraging GM applications• Encouraging and enabling YGM applications• Pre-Games Workshops for GM’s• Recruit & Induct Torch Relay and Paralympic

Flame volunteers• Search for local GM’s• Post Games Celebration• GM Survey (Feb. 2013)• Contact maintained by email

Games Time Volunteering

Outcomes – Some stats!

• 350+ County Events Volunteers• 80+ Events in 2011-12• 2300 hours of volunteers time at these• 1266 hours of volunteer training 2011-12• 200+ GM and Ceremony volunteers• 711 Sport Makers across the county

through the CSP

What Volunteers say…..

I know that volunteering has made a massive difference to my self-confidence and has helped me to feel much more positive about myself and others. If it wasn’t for volunteering, I honestly don’t think that I would be working now”.

Michael (28), County Events Volunteer

“At first using the website was a bit of a challenge but I soon got my head around it. It is very simple to use and the Events Calendar is really straightforward. The big plus about it is that it enables me to choose and plan my volunteering commitments”.

Ian (62), County Events Volunteer

“I think that the Legacy Project encourages Event Organisers to think more about how they use volunteers, asking them to clarify the volunteer roles upfront, which must be a good thing!” Fred (50), County Events Volunteer

“When you turn up to volunteer at an event nobody cares how old you are or where you are from. Everyone is so friendly and keen to make you feel welcome, I really enjoy that! It is great to feel useful and to be appreciated for what you are able to do”. Pat (65), County Events Volunteer

“I liked the sound of the Events Team because it seemed different to some other volunteering opportunities. I liked the idea of volunteering at one-off events without having to commit myself to a particular organisation long term. I’m busy with my studies and all of my part time jobs so I like to be flexible with my volunteering”. Sarah (22), County Events Volunteer

“It is really inspirational to see the achievement and happiness on participants faces when they finish a competition or a challenge, it makes me feel good as well” Julie (40), County Events Volunteer

Key Achievements

• Establishing a new sustainable model for events volunteering

• Enabling new volunteers to get involved• Providing access to structured training

opportunities• Providing pathways for ‘2012’ Volunteers to

get/stay involved• Providing a mechanism for the volunteering

legacy to be sustained post 2012

Some of the additional outcomes

• Closer relationship with key partners • Closer links with local media • Increased links between VC’s and Sport/Events

Volunteering opportunities• Closer work with large charities

(Cancer Research UK/Stroke Association)

• Raising the profile of volunteering within local disability sport

Learning points

• There is a demand for episodic volunteering opportunities at local events

• Volunteers on such a programme can be actively engaged in training

• There is the potential for positive impact upon Event Organisers by strengthening the volunteer workforce and sharing good practice

• There is the potential for local ‘2012 volunteering legacy’ but it requires resourcing and active support from partners

Legacy of the Legacy in Suffolk!

• Three more years of funding (2013-16)• Introduce a formal Events Volunteer Recognition

Scheme• Increased engagement with Event Organisers• Links with Suffolk Most Active County campaign • Development of Project-based volunteering

opportunities• The Legacy Project as part of the new

‘volunteering offer’ county wide through CAS

Challenges for a national volunteering legacy

• Legacy was not part of the GM Programme• Lack of a full and comprehensive review and

evaluation of the GM Programme• Limited leadership provided by the VCS

(NCVO-VE)• Will Join in be sufficient to establish a

sustainable volunteering legacy?• Lack of clarity (to date) over any development of

the SM Programme

Legacy!

"You have to plan for legacy and that has to start before the event”

Judy Murray, when asked about the impact of the London Olympics.

“Legacies need vigilance” Baroness Massey of Darwen in the

House of Lords debate on London 2012, held on 8th November 2012

Thank you for listening!

Mike McCarthy

Suffolk 2012 Volunteering Legacy Officermike.mccarthy@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk

01473 275196