Volunteers

A key role of the Sports Council for Wales is to increase the numbers of volunteers as the voluntary sector plays a crucial role in the delivery of sport in Wales. In the UK, some 1.5 million volunteers put an average of 125 hours a year into sport. This means that in Wales, the "value" in sport now exceeds £50 million per annum in time costs alone.
 

The current programmes of the Sports Council for Wales require a growth in vounteering to support sports development within schools and communities. A full range of training is being made available to encourage, support and develop these essential voluteeers. The main drive behind Dragon Sport is the recruitment of parents of young people as volunteers.

Sports Council studies have identified the need to increase the number of active volunteers involved in the development of sport in Bridgend. It is hoped to achieve this through the following:

1. Supporting schools to identify volunteers to support after school activities and clubs.

2. Providing training through Dragon Sport and Sports Leadership to support volunteers.

3. Promoting opportunities to volunteers by maintaining details of community sports clubs and associations.

4. Encouraging volunteers to become involved in creating opportunities for special interest groups ie. people wih disabilities, women and girsl, disadvantaged groups etc.