Volunteering
A helping hand for sport...
Coaches, leaders and officials are always needed to deliver sport and activity programmes in clubs, schools and youth groups. Community sport relies on volunteers to engage people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities in sports and activities from rugby and football to ultimate frisbee, boccia and dance.
Becoming involved as a volunteer can be a massively rewarding personal journey. It offers skill-development relevant to studying and in the work-place, it enables sport and activity to be extended to the whole community, and being a volunteer helps to provide excellent role models.
Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Bristol has programmes in place to train and deploy volunteers in a wide range of roles. Staff and students have the opportunity to take part in leadership, coaching and officiating courses and gain practical experience through volunteering.
Placements can be one-offs or long-term commitments. There is something to suit every age, background and ability. Previous sporting ability is not required, just an interest in personal and community development.
Our volunteers are given the skills to lead and coach groups in safe sporting and recreational activity where the focus is as much on fun as it is on learning. Practical experience through placements develops organisational, communication and other transferable skills, all of which are of enormous benefit to our volunteers both during and after their time at the University.
Staff and students get so much from their time at Bristol: our Community Sport Volunteer Scheme helps them put something back.
Such opportunities support students in achieving the Bristol Plus and Sporting Plus awards
What our volunteers have to say:
"I signed up because I really enjoy my sport and wanted to give something back as I started in the intermediates class when I arrived at the university two and a half years ago. It also looks great on the CV! I gained my qualification in the summer and since then with other club members have been taking it in turns to run the two beginners sessions and one intermediates session we hold every week. The ability to do this are all skills that we learnt on our week long course." Fencing coach, Becky Sharp
“I’ve found my involvement in the leadership courses, and volunteering, to be a fun experience that has also boosted my CV. It has opened doors for me with new job opportunities”. Sarah Cleave, Community sports volunteer
“I made new friends while recognising the value and importance of volunteering within the community. We all had great fun and enjoyed the volunteering days, which although extremely tiring and demanding allowed me to tap into unexpected resources and meet the challenges with relish. I am now looking forward to progressing with renewed confidence within my Netball Club and helping to expand our Junior Coaching Programme giving the younger ones the motivation and the opportunities to develop their all round team and individual skills. I am open to the possibilities of working within the community in a volunteering capacity to offer my services to those interested parties that may benefit, not least of which, would be myself”. Sue Davies, University staff member