Volunteering
You are either reading this as an existing volunteer or are just curious about what volunteering in Rugby entails! Welcome! A Volunteer Coordinator at any of our Cornish clubs will be glad to have you on board.
‘What’s in it for you?’ we are often asked or ‘You mean you do that for nothing?’.
As a volunteer you are certainly in good company with over 100,000 people regularly volunteering at grassroots level rugby in the UK. Seriously, without volunteers, rugby would not happen.
Who can volunteer?
From chaperoned under 18s upwards. Anyone in fact. Whether you play rugby, whether you are a former player or even if you have no interest in the game whatsoever and just want to tag along with a friend and help your community out; everyone has something they can offer.
Skills
From selling the ubiquitous raffle tickets, (the mainstay of local Cornish rugby), becoming a First Aider or taking up a position on the Committee of the club. Volunteers can learn new skills and also pass on their professional expertise to others.
In case you don’t believe me dear reader, here is a list of skills you might put to good use at your local rugby club: ICT skills, photography and anything on the publicity side, ground maintenance including mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, pitch marking, painting, mopping out, building work, making and serving refreshments and washing up, First Aid skills, communication skills, making people feel welcome, fundraising, liaising with local businesses for sponsorship, litter picking, bar manager, membership secretary, carrying out risk assessments, helping in the carpark and so much more. You might even want to put yourself forward for a place on the committee or get involved with pitch-side, refereeing or coaching any of the age groups at your chosen club.
Opportunities and Volunteer Development
There is no set limit for the number of hours you can give; it depends on your situation; from a couple of hours a year right up to a few hours a week. You might prefer to watch a match and help out with ground maintenance in the off-season or you may enjoy the Spectator Safety side of the game. There are also qualifications available ranging from Spectator Safety to First Aid, including Defibrillator training and Safeguarding but don’t let that put you off!
‘Since gaining my NVQ Level 2 in Spectator Safety through my club I have landed paid jobs at music festivals in Cornwall and around the UK.’
‘Getting my NVQ gave me the confidence to train as an SIA which has become my regular job and that is all because I helped out at my local rugby club’.
Rewards
From a ‘Thank you’ for a job well done, to being nominated as a part of the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme, efforts of volunteers do not go unnoticed. In Cornwall during the 2018-2019 season 54 Volunteers received hospitality, match-day tickets and gifts from the RFU at the Bill Beaumont County Championship game at Redruth. All nominated volunteers are then in with a chance of attending a celebration of achievement lunch at Twickenham.
Find your local club
Use the following link to find details of all rugby clubs in Cornwall. Happy Volunteering!
