Volunteer Development
Be inVOLved is Blackburn with Darwen Sports Development Teams volunteer programme, where volunteers, aged 16 and over, will be recruited to volunteer with the Sports Development Team or with local sports clubs that have gained ClubMark Accreditation or equivalent.
The aim is to increase volunteer opportunities and the number of volunteers within sports clubs, so the sports clubs have the capacity to increase numbers of participation and therefore increase sustainability of sports clubs and participation.
This programme has been inspired by London 2012, to change the way in which people become involved in volunteering.
The Be inVOLved programme will offer subsidised training to candidates so that they are better placed to provide high quality experiences. It will inspire volunteers to draw on courage and determination as they start out in their experience with a sports club and maintain their minimum 6 months of volunteering. No two clubs will be the same, so volunteers will experience differences in people taking part at the club and how they are able to take part regardless of abilities.
What volunteer development opportunities do Healthy Living & Sport provide?
- courses in sport for volunteers, leaders, coaches and officials.
- information, advice and assistance on courses;
- information on recommended minimum operating standards workshops;
- Access to volunteering schemes.
Healthy Living & Sport are able to offer, accessible sporting workforce education opportunities because it works in partnership with:
- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council departments;
- Regional Governing Bodies for Sport & Physical Activity;
- Lancashire Sport.
If you want to be a responsible leader, coach or official?
Then you should make sure of the following:
- you have an appropriate U.K. recognised Governing Body qualification
- you are delivering sport to the groups of people you are qualified to and at the level you are qualified to (not above)
- you have an appropriate First Aid Qualification or there is a First Aider on Duty at all your sessions
- you have professional Indemnity Insurance from your National Governing Body or Personal Injury Cover for the group you are taking
- you are aware of child protection issues and follow best practice if you coach children.
- you have a clear “enhanced” Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB).
- you are aware of issues about equal access to sport or equity and practice this in your session
- you are aware of issues that affect disabled sports people
Minimum operating standards/ best practice guidelines for Coaches/Instructors/Leaders:
- Level 1 National Governing Body (NGB) Qualifications allow you to act as an assistant to a Level 2 Coach (20-30 hrs).
- Level 2 NGB qualifications allow you to act unsupervised (40-60 hrs).
- Sports Coach UK* Safeguarding & protecting children certificate (3 hrs).
- Sports Coach UK How to coach disabled people in sport (3 hrs).
- Sports Coach UK Equity in your coaching (3 hrs).
- First Aid Certificate* (min 3 hrs).
- Enhanced level CRB Clearance through NGB.
- NGB Professional Indemnity Insurance
* or National Governing Body equivalent
Recommended additional standards:
- An introduction to Long Term Athlete Development LTAD (3 hrs).
- The FUNdamentals of movement workshop (3 hrs).
- Emergency First Aid for Sport (min 6 hrs).
- Retake 3 hr certificates which expire after 3 years.
If you are interested in Volunteering at an accredited sports club or with our Sports Development Team, please contact: sportsdevelopmentblackburn.gov.uk
