Sport Makers - Good practice in volunteer and sports development. Jonathan Grix. University of Birmingham Geoff Nichols. University of Sheffield Gemma Ferguson. Richmond upon Thames College

Sport Makers Sport England’s programme to promote volunteering in sport delivered through CSPs Recruits volunteers – inspiration event – deployment to sport volunteering – 10 hours each – continued after 3 months CSPs work through recruitment and deployment sub brokers

Background Sport participation very reliant on volunteers But – have to recruit and retain them Trend to episodic volunteers Role models of broker organisations Trend to informal sports participation Systems of monitoring and control

Monitoring and control Via SM web site Prospective SMs register interest on web Directed to workshop in local CSP Register – attendance, 10 hours and 30 hours CSP targets – reflect % of 40,000

Objectives 1. has SM developed the work of CSPs such as it has increased both volunteering and volunteering opportunities? 2. how has the operation of SM been influenced by the monitoring system?

Methods Case studies of 6 CSPs Within these – mini case studies of partners, selected to contract size and innovation

SM as a catalyst for new partnerships – examples - SY Barnsley Best – volunteer broker programme South West Yorkshire Foundation Trust - work with Mencap members Doncaster Cheswold Park Hospital – work with sectioned patients Doncaster deaf college –students set up a volleyball event Sheffield teaching hospitals – staff table tennis sessions

SM as a catalyst for new partnerships – example Manchester food processing factory With work place activity committee + HRM 4 SM inspiration workshops ‘sports clinics’ on running and table tennis TT developed with Ping equipment Co. buys full size table – in board room

SM as building on existing synergy SY CSP and regional ETTA 2 inspiration events – 23 new volunteers Deployed to Ping tables RbpF8

Impact of monitoring Partners with easy access to large groups Eg college sessions and NCS Easy to register participants – and partner will record the hours BUT – is there double counting?

Impact of monitoring ‘tail wags the dog’? But – stacking up the numbers allows for more effective work CSPs balance numbers v effectiveness

Conclusions Volunteering increased – but can’t tell real figures; some over and some under- counting New and innovative partnerships stimulated Allows for episodic volunteering and for more informal participation Does the tail wag the dog too much or is this the best compromise?