Volunteers needed if Olympic legacy is to be more than just golden memories

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SPORTS clubs across Redditch may miss out on taking advantage of London 2012 fever because of a lack of volunteers.

With the Games due to end on Sunday, clubs across the borough are bracing themselves for an expected surge in interest due to Team GB’s phenomenal gold medal success.

But Len Quartly, chairman of Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletics Club, warned without volunteers coming forward to support their work coaches would be overwhelmed and there was a risk youngsters in particular could miss out.

“We need to get more adults involved. We already have a waiting list and if we get swamped we are just not going to be able to cope and I guess it’s the same for all clubs,” he said.

“Even if they just watch what the kids are doing that takes the pressure off the coaches but if they want to be a coach and get involved then there are paths we can put them on.”

Ken Tye, chairman of Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club, said as well as volunteers more funding was also needed to support clubs.

“A lot depends on a few members at each club doing the things that need doing but if the number of kids wanting to be involved keeps increasing the elastic is going to get thin in places.”

Steve Brewster, director of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sports Partnership, said from September a big push was planned on recruiting volunteers, raising awareness of sports and activities available locally and supporting people who wanted to set-up clubs for minority sports not accessible such as handball.

“We are trying to harness the Games Makers helping out at London 2012 by saying don’t just go and help out for a fortnight, volunteer over a longer period of time with clubs locally. We will be looking to place people in the community and they will get rewarded for the number of hours they do.”

Coun Luke Stephens, responsible for leisure on Redditch Borough Council, led a review looking at how to increase sports participation building on the Olympics.

“One of the big issues to come out of that was you can put on as many events as you like but if you haven’t got people to help you then it’s a non-starter. We are talking to NEW College and trying to establish links and building that culture of volunteering we need.”

To get involved with the athletics club visit www.bromsgroveandredditchac.sportcentric.com or www.rrpcc.co.uk for the cycling club.

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