Sport Wales Research March 2011 Sport Volunteering in Wales: a research project

Active Adults Survey – Who volunteers? What do they do? How long do they spend doing it? Who wants to volunteer? Survey follow-up study: over 100 interviews with: – sports volunteers (including coaches) – those who wish to volunteer (coach) – participants who receive sports coaching/instruction – people who dont want to volunteer Two research studies Sports volunteering in Wales

Who volunteers?

In brief: findings from the Survey Sports volunteering in Wales Decreases with social class – similar pattern for school and club Males are more likely to volunteer than females in sports clubs, though not school sports clubs Students and parents are the most likely groups to volunteer A link between rurality and volunteering – those in rural areas tend to volunteer more Sports participants are more likely to volunteer Those motivated to participate for competition, to learn new skills, for fun, or for socialising are more likely to volunteer Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

How do people get into volunteering in sport? How might we get more people volunteering in sport?

People usually fall into volunteering Sports volunteering in Wales Most dont proactively seek opportunities, even when they are interested in volunteering – Students are the only proactive type – Roped into supporting activities that they already had some involvement in Opportunities arise within clubs/classes and existing social networks People are most likely to respond to a specific need expressed to them directly in their local community Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Qualitative research: four routes into volunteering Sports volunteering in Wales StudentsActive parents Looking for experience and development opportunities that come with volunteering (usually coaching). The only type that proactively seeks out opportunities to volunteer/coach. A volunteer base or future workforce? A parent whose child is involved in an activity, and is already on the sidelines. Gets involved because the club/class expresses a need. Sport loversSkilled volunteers Someone with a passion for their particular sport and has an existing involvement in a club/class. They get involved as they become older, can no longer participate/compete or have reached a certain level of expertise. Someone with skills that the club needs (e.g. administration, accounting, driving). Usually hear about the clubs need through friends or family and respond to that need. Source: Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

My son was learning so I started by helping out with the under-nines … I started off helping out two coaches. One coach moved on with his boy to the under 12s. The other coach I was helping has two children and wanted to spend time with his daughter, so didnt continue. Consequently I became the lead. Rugby coach Research interviewee

... Ive just not looked into it. There is nothing stopping me except me. I suppose if I was approached by the school or a club that would probably be enough for me to get involved but its really because I havent done anything about it. Its one of those things that you would like to do but just never get round to it. Interested in volunteering, but not currently volunteering Research interviewee

Questions from the research Sports volunteering in Wales We need a culture of engaging more people by asking – Being unafraid to ask, or a greater expectation on members/parents? What does deployment mean, when volunteers are usually engaged locally? What happens to young leaders and students? – Can clubs be developed around them? In what ways? (How) Can they be engaged long-term? Pure sports clubs: a male environment – links to the gender gap in volunteering and club participation? Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Percentage (%) of adults who have volunteered in sport in the previous 12 months Meeting the Coaching Strategy target Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Questions from the research Sports volunteering in Wales We need a culture of engaging more people by asking – Being unafraid to ask, or a greater expectation on members/parents? What does deployment mean, when volunteers are usually engaged locally? What happens to young leaders and students? – Can clubs be developed around them? In what ways? (How) Can they be engaged long-term? Pure sports clubs: a male environment – links to the gender gap in volunteering and club participation? Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Issues for volunteers

A challenge for club development Sports volunteering in Wales The purpose of developing the coaching / volunteering base is larger, stronger and more sustainable clubs Coaches and volunteers feel adequately supported in their day-to-day volunteering roles: ad-hoc support within clubs and (sometimes) from governing bodies Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

A challenge for club development Sports volunteering in Wales But: not enough support when they want to grow their club – Volunteers often end up feeling overloaded – they need support from more people – Clubs need support in deciding who to ask, when, and having the confidence to ask whilst accepting that many will say no – Potential volunteers dont always know what roles exist or what they could do Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Other challenges Sports volunteering in Wales Child protection and other regulations – Not necessarily a barrier to entry, but existing volunteers thought it might be an issue Parents using sports clubs as childcare providers – … even when the child isnt interested in the sport – Has an impact on the quality of sessions for all Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales

Conclusions Sports volunteering in Wales There is potential to increase the number of volunteers in sport, by asking them (and doing so appropriately). Think about why people get involved in volunteering, and how: this will help to determine whether they will stay with a club or activity later on. Opportunities arise within clubs/classes and existing social networks. People are most likely to respond to a specific need expressed to them directly in their local community. Source: Active Adults Survey, ; Sports Volunteering in Wales research project. Base: all adults aged 15 and above in Wales