It is said that ‘people make the difference’. When this statement is considered in the context of the sport sector it takes on a new level of significance. It makes us realise how dependent we are on an army of people that give up their time for no direct financial gain – our sports volunteers.
So what would happen if we didn’t have sports volunteers? Some sporting activity would still be accessible via private and local authority providers. However, it is probable that community sport would cease to exist, having huge implications for society as a whole, as the core identity of a number of our communities is intrinsically linked to their sports clubs.
Schools may introduce individuals to sporting activity, but it is community clubs that provide the opportunity to participate, receive coaching and compete in sport on a regular basis. It is highly likely that the people running the club and delivering the coaching are volunteers. The phenomenon that is Parkrun is also dependent on volunteers to organise each run.
With local authority investment into sport and leisure under constant attack, the transfer of assets to the community is seen as one option to continued sporting provision. Whether to undertake ‘asset transfer’ is probably one of the biggest decisions that community sports clubs have had to make and the decision is being made by our sporting volunteers and what they decide could change the sporting landscape forever.
Even the biggest sporting events are dependent on volunteers, the recent World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff had 1,200 volunteers active on the day making sure runners had a great experience.
So it’s vital that we as a sport sector ensure that our sports volunteers are valued, developed and supported as I can’t see a future without them.