What is a sports volunteer mentor?
A common definition of mentoring is "support, assistance, advocacy or guidance given by one person to another in order to achieve an objective or several objectives over a period of time". In sport (like most areas) we need experienced coaches and volunteers to share their skills with those just starting out.
Mentors are needed to be contact point for young volunteers and to help support the young person in their volunteering.
Could you be a mentor?
Do you remember what it was like just starting out as a coach or volunteer? - Would you have benefitted from someone to show you the ropes?
Mentors are needed who are willing to offer support and guidance to a young person within their club/organisational setting.
As a mentor you offer an important contact point between GreaterSport and your club and are crucial in helping to identify training needs and ensure that the volunteer is happy in their role.
What are the benefits of being a mentor?
- Receive information and training on the role of a volunteer co-ordinator/mentor
- Information on how to effectively manage volunteers
- Access to runningsports Valuing Sports Volunteers course
- Mentors often improve their own interpersonal skills and learn different viewpoints from the people they are mentoring
Resources
Online resources and links to benefit those working with volunteers - www.volunteering.org.uk/managingvolunteers/
www.runningsports.org - updated resources and guides to support you as a sporting volunteer.
GreaterSport has copies of Volunteer England's Volunteering Impact Assessment toolkit and Volunteers and the Law. If you or your club would like to borrow either please contact Jill Mayers
