Why sport-volunteering is now ‘a thing’

Three awesome organisations have come together to encourage people to get volunteering for sports events in their local communities. The #BigHelpOut is an initiative from the brains behind country-wide, sport-volunteering phenomenon parkrun, the BBC’s Get Inspired and Join In UK, the nation’s charity for local sports volunteering.

Get happy!

Volunteering has been proven to boost wellbeing, happiness and is key to improving relationships within the community. Join In UK’s research has shown that volunteers are ‘28% more likely to feel what they do has importance and are more likely to trust others in their community,’ which can raise self-esteem.

Seeing the good that you’re doing in your community is bound to have endless rewards. As one volunteer and event director at Woodley parkrun in Berkshire tells us: ‘Being a volunteer at parkrun has helped me in so many ways. It has boosted my confidence, especially in public speaking, which has had a knock-on effect on my day job. For me, parkrun has always been about other people’s running and not my own, and I get a lot of enjoyment from just watching people turn up and enjoy their run with friends.’

Even the ‘slebs are doing it

TV stars and celebrated athletes have also got involved with the campaign to get more people volunteering for sports.

Comedian and Join In patron Eddie Izzard has spoken publically about these benefits, and has even featured in Join In’s video content, stating: ‘Real heroes don’t wear capes or masks, they’re in the community around us, helping out at local sports clubs and using their super skills to help with fundraising, coaching, social media and everything else it takes. But it’s not just the players that benefit, these local heroes also feel happier and healthier for helping out.’

Multiple Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is also involved in the effort and agrees with Eddie. ‘Volunteers have played a vital role in my career. Their motivation, dedication and commitment has helped me progress in sport and they continue to help athletes at every level to enjoy sport.’

Where do I sign?

The Big Help Out, with the aid of Join In and parkrun, is aiming to get 10,000 new volunteers to lend a hand at their local sports clubs this year. If you have some spare time on your hands, why not do some good for the community and to yourself by becoming a volunteer in your area?

To find out more information about sports volunteering, check out joininuk.org/join-in-bbc-big-help-out.