New survey seeks to address volunteering shortage in Wales
The public and the ecosystem that makes up Welsh sport are being asked to have their say as part of a new project that aims to address the dramatic drop in levels of volunteering in sports clubs in Wales.
The research, overseen by community sport charity Sported on behalf of a coalition of organisations, will take a deeper look at why the number of people offering up their free time to volunteer at management, committee or board level across all types of organisations has fallen – putting the viability of many local clubs and groups at risk.
Initial research has discovered that the majority of the groups are small community, volunteer-led organisations who are struggling with capacity. It also found that recruitment and support for trustees and committee volunteers is a challenge, as is finding volunteers at this level representative of their communities and service users.
Such volunteers are also likely to among the most time-poor at their organisations given they often volunteer across multiple roles. There are also issues of diversity and equality that are noted throughout.
The project will gather further insight over the coming months and will open up an initial survey during April 2024 to unearth the issues affecting the number of volunteers at management, committee or board level positions.
The survey and subsequent workshops, which are being finalised by the coalition, will look to form part of the insight which the coalition will utilise to help recommend and or design solutions moving forward.
“We know how vital a role volunteering plays throughout Welsh civic life and how important it is to address the current slump in those coming forward,” said Sported’s Wales Manager, Richard Thomas.
“That’s why we’re urging as many of those involved in sports groups in Wales, as well as all layers of government and other agencies, to have their say and be part of this research so we can identify just how to boost numbers and keep this priceless system afloat.”
The research study has backing from the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and in partnership with a coalition of organisations, including the Welsh Sports Association (WSA), Sport Wales, Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales and StreetGames.
The full report is set to be published in August but research and date collection will commence in April 2024. Organisations and individual volunteers in management, committee or board level positions at clubs and groups delivering sport and physical activity can now complete the survey which is live.
WSA Commercial Manager, Tom Sharp, said:
“The need for a robust, engaged, and diverse volunteering workforce across all levels of sport and leisure, in Wales, is crucial for the sector.
“We are seeing many of our member organisations struggle to fill and retain volunteers at management, committee and at board level positions and we’re keen to establish why this is the case; therefore, the WSA would urge all stakeholders across the sport & leisure sector to be part of this research and complete the brief survey below, to help shape solutions moving forward.”
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