Sports Partnership bids to attract extra volunteers with new booklet

In a bid to increase the numbers of people volunteering in sports clubs around the Midlands, Westmeath Sports Partnership will launch a new booklet next week entitled "Volunteering in Changing Times" on June 11 next. The resource takes a fresh look at the questions of how to identify, recruit, retain and reward volunteers in the current climate. 'We are well aware of the strong voluntary tradition that has built up sports clubs in Ireland but we were equally aware that times have changed and the needs of the voluntary youth or sporting club are more complex than ever before,' according to Sonja Statham, Co-ordinator of Westmeath Sports Partnership. She continued: 'It treats volunteer recruitment in much the same way as a business identifies the workers it will need, setting out the tasks to be done, the type of persons needed to do these tasks and the training requirements that will equip them to do their work better. It encourages clubs to look closely at what motivates people to volunteer, what will motivate them to continue and what might cause them to cease volunteering.' To coincide with the launch of the booklet, a seminar, "Volunteering in Changing Times" will be held on Thursday, June 11, next at 7.30pm in Belvedere House, Mullingar. Speakers on the night include the RTÉ rugby analyst Jim Glennon, who along with local volunteers who will highlight the benefits of volunteering to both individuals and clubs. Also on the night, a presentation of the Westmeath Sports Partnership and Co Westmeath VEC Youth Sports Grants 2009 will be made to the successful applicants. 'Co Westmeath VEC and the Sports Partnership are committed to the ongoing support of this vital and energetic sector. We are delighted to be in a position to provide a much needed financial boost to almost 60 youth and sports clubs while also working to build the long-term capacity of the sector to attract and maintain a healthy and viable membership and leadership base,' according to Maria Fox, Youth Officer with Westmeath VEC. For further information, to receive a copy of the booklet or to reserve a place at the seminar please contact Westmeath Sports Partnership tel 044 9390208, email info@westmeathsports.ie or Westmeath VEC tel 044 9348389, email mfox@westmeathvec.ie