Over the past decade, the Government and other establishments have continued to ensure young people have enough sporting opportunities. This could either be through their schools or extra-curricular clubs.
A lot of these activities need arranging, managing and running and most of the time, they are run by volunteers. These volunteers dedicate a lot of time, time they could have spent playing themselves, but instead spend it on helping others. A lot of the time,they aren’t paid either.
The importance of work experience has been implanted in the minds of many young people as they begin to search for full time employment. Tom Pinder, 20, studies Sport Science at the University of Lincoln. He has volunteered and had paid coaching roles for a number of years and these roles have improved his CV drastically.
“I volunteer because its good fun, majority of guys i coach are my age or below. My experience can help those of a younger age. Mainly for enjoyment” said Tom.
Volunteers like Tom are often forgotten about and under-valued in sporting committees. The Sport and Recreation Alliance say two million adults in England contribute at least one hour a week to volunteering in sport. This would cost nearly three billion pounds a year to employ these volunteers on a full time basis.
In a survey by the Sport Alliance, they found that out of the 3000 surveyed in the UK, 80% of employers value volunteering on a CV.
It can often seem daunting to apply for jobs and experience but if you don’t buy a ticket to the raffle, how can you win? Tom did and he landed a job. He applied to a County Council job posting to coach an under-13’s hockey group. Through that experience he is now coaching hockey at the University of Lincoln.
Youth unemployment is also another topic high on the agenda of politicians and worried citizens. Official Parliament figures show that the unemployment rate of 16-24 year olds was 16%, as of October this year. For young people looking for employment, volunteering and work experience is an important place to start.
Tom says, “Work experience is a huge one, even unpaid or paid. People will look at that over qualifications sometimes. but it is not the be all and end all. Even if the experience isn’t applicable to what you’re applying for it will still look good in your CV.”
Sport also plays a big role in other walks of life. Lincolnshire County Council have created a scheme to get young offenders into sport, to teach and train those who have offended. This shows that sport can play an important role in everyones lives. The need for volunteers and those who love sport allows for these opportunities to arise.
What is the point in volunteering? You don’t get paid and you could use that time more wisely. But there are other rewarding parts of life. Tom says, “ When people ask a specific question, how to do what, and you can see them progress. Even if you see them in training, you can see that development and thats rewarding.”
These opportunities allows people like Tom to teach others and watch players develop. “More times often than not, the person who thinks they’re struggling is perhaps better than some of their peers without realising it.”
When questioned about problems arising in coaches, Tom gave this coaching tip, “if you engage with them enough, you can make them listen to you.”
Volunteering is a two way street. You are able to help others and gain something for yourself too.
Listen to the full interview with Tom below.