Developing Sports Volunteers
Raising the bar in sports volunteering, the 1st4sport Sports Volunteering Suite are the only sports-specific volunteering qualifications designed especially for those working as a coordinator or manager of sports volunteers. Developed in partnership with runningsports (the programme created and funded by Sport England to support sports volunteers and the people who manage them), the qualifications provide candidates with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully coordinate or manage a sport-volunteering programme.
The suite comprises:
Click here to find out how to apply for these qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the suite for?Why offer the qualifications in this suite?How do I apply?
Who is the suite for?
The 1st4sport Level 2 Award in Coordinating Sports Volunteers
Any volunteer over the age of 16 at a sports club has a role in managing, governing or running a club and is interested in enhancing their skills and ability to perform these roles more effectively.
The 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Managing Sports Volunteers
Anyone who manages volunteers (directly or indirectly) and is responsible for club development and volunteer management and support, for example:
- governing body of sport volunteer managers
- county sports partnership managers
- local authority sports development officers
- Further Education/Higher Education volunteer managers.
This qualification is excellent in helping candidates become more effective managers of volunteers, enabling them to excel in their role.
^ Back to Top
Why offer the qualifications in this suite?
The only sport-specific volunteering qualifications for coordinators and managers of volunteers
There are over six million volunteers in England alone who contribute more than 1.2 billion hours to sport each year (Sport England, 2008). However, there has never been any sport-specific learning to provide these people with the knowledge and skills needed to help them perform in their role: until now! That’s what makes this qualification ideal for you to add to your existing provision, especially with The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on the horizon, which will depend on up to 70,000 volunteers to make sure they run smoothly and successfully.
Ensuring sport continues to flourish
By choosing to deliver these qualifications, the sports volunteering community will benefit by having a complete understanding of what it takes to effectively coordinate sports volunteers or manage a sports volunteering programme – enhancing their ability to run their club and ensuring sport flourishes.
Developed in partnership with the experts
Both qualifications have been developed in partnership with runningsports. Created and funded by Sport England, runningsports support sports volunteers and the people who manage them, and do everything in their power to make sure clubs not only survive, but also grow and thrive. You can therefore be confident in the qualifications’ content.
How do I apply?
If you are not already a 1st4sport recognised centre, but would like to deliver any of the qualifications in the 1st4sportSports Volunteering Suite*, you will first need to fill in a Centre Recognition Application Form.
To apply, please request a Centre Recognition Application Form.
If you are already a recognised centre and would like to deliver any of the qualifications in the 1st4sportSports Volunteering Suite*, please request a Qualification Approval Form.
It’s free to apply to deliver our qualifications.
*1st4sport expects the 1st4sport Level 2 Award in Coordinating Sports Volunteers in this Suite to be available for delivery by the end of January 2010. If you would like to be notified when you can apply to deliver this qualification please click here.
^ Back to Top
