Recruit, Retain, Reward and Results

The England Athletics Volunteer Initiative supports clubs to Recruit, Retain and Reward volunteers leading to better Results for both clubs and volunteers. With the all important moment fast approaching the importance of readiness is central to our sports success. It is vital that your club plans for its volunteers and that everyone in the club is ready to welcome them. This will help to make sure that both the volunteer and the club get the best results from the services of volunteers.

Recruit: The initiative aims to bring new volunteers into the sport. Using resources and guidance, clubs can help target suitable volunteers for each role. Having the right targeting approach and selection process is key to recruitment. This strand of the initiative is driven by the ‘Are you ready?’ campaign.

Retain: It is vital not only that new volunteers come into Athletics but they are retained. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games presented our sport with its biggest opportunity for a generation. In 2014 we see the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, then 2016 has the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games before the 2017 World Athletics Championships take place in London.

Reward: Happy volunteers are good volunteers. Volunteers must be rewarded and appreciated for their efforts if they are to continue to offer their services. This must be done by the clubs and also through national incentives such as the England Athletics Volunteer Awards/Hall of Fame.

Results: Bringing new volunteers in and maintaining current volunteers can see great results for clubs, volunteers and the sport as a whole. Attracting the right volunteers will add improved structure to clubs and provide volunteers with opportunities to develop.
As part of the initiative a tool kit is available to assist clubs, available in the tool kit section of the volunteer webpage.
 

• Click here for Volunteer Toolkit