DEERNESS GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

‘Re-developing volunteering at Deerness Gymnastics Academy: Strategy and Action’

Background 

Deerness Gymnastics Academy (DGA) is a volunteer-led club specialising in acrobatic gymnastics and tumbling. The club took over a Durham County Council leisure centre in October 2011, which was to close due to cuts.

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The club has a database of more than 100 volunteers that it can draw upon which is important as it has to run both the club and the facility.

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This enabled the DGA medal-winning gymnasts to continue training in the North East and for the club to provide an important community facility, making gymnastics coaching available to all ages from novice to elite level.

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A charitable organisation with limited funds, DGA implemented a PR campaign to launch the new Academy, raise awareness of the new facilities and make the club commercially viable, and recruit new volunteers to run the club and the premises.

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DGA has a website, Twitter and a Facebook page.

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http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9285277.Deerne ss_Leisure_Centre_bounces_back_from_closure_threat_as_g ymnastics_academy/ Hugh Robertson – Minister for Sport visits the centre in January 2012 to see how we have managed to save the centre. A real life example of ‘The Big Society’. This initiative has been based upon the principles of empowering communities, redistributing power and fostering a culture of volunteerism. http://www.the-big-society.co.uk/

We take on the challenge!

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We had to come up with a volunteer strategy that would enable us to: ◦ Prove to Durham County Council (DCC) that we could sustain the club long term. ◦ Prove to DCC that we could actually run the facility. ◦ Ensure the facility complied to all health and safety legislation, etc. ◦ Enable the effective day to day running of the centre. ◦ Ensure that all the work required on the building could be completed at minimal cost.

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Increase the number of volunteer coaches in the club Objectives

Time Scale

Actions

Responsibility

Resources / cost

Raise the level of coaching in the club

On-going

Annually send two coaches on their next level coaching course

Director of Gymnastics

£1000 / annum

Support coaches and volunteers in the personal development

On-going

Discuss with all volunteers their needs. Plan course of action / mentoring that will help them develop their role.

Mentor coaches

£1000 / annum

Recruit new volunteers to become coaches

On-going

Offer parents and older gymnasts (15+) the opportunity to go on the UKCC Level 1 course (minimum one per year)

Club Volunteer coordinator

£500 / annum

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Increase the number of volunteers and support them to develop and run the club / facility Objectives

Time Scale

Actions

Responsibility

Appoint a Club Volunteer Coordinator to sit on the club’s management team.

Oct’ 2011

Appoint an individual to this role with job description.

Director of Gymnastics

Ensure all committee members are comfortable with their roles and are offered training where necessary.

Ongoing

Access to the British Gymnastics club management module, Running Sport and Coachwise courses.

Club Volunteer Coordinator

Hold an annual CPD day for volunteers at the Academy

Annually

Appoint an Induction mentor for new volunteers

Oct’ 2011

Give volunteers clear job descriptions for each role within the club. Send out questionnaire to find out what CPD they require.

Club Volunteer Coordinator

Include some key CPD for volunteers e.g. H & S Awareness Appoint an individual to this role with job description.

Club Volunteer Coordinator

Resources / cost

As required (subject to funds).

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Increase the number of volunteers and support them to develop and run the club / facility.

Objectives

Time Scale

Actions

Responsibility

Recognise and promote the work done by volunteers in the club

Annually

Nominate volunteers to various annual awards e.g. NEGA, County Durham Sport, Sport England – NE Sport Awards, DGA Annual Dinner, Northern Echo Local Hero Awards, etc.

DGA Management Team / Volunteer Co-ordinator

Develop a club database of volunteers

Ongoing

Conduct an audit to assess current volunteer recruitment status.

Club Volunteer Co-ordinator

Improve communication with volunteers

Ongoing

Develop a database of helpers and event volunteers (subject to Data Protection Act 1998). Frequently up-date website. Send out quarterly e-newsletter. Other information via regular e-blasts / news sent out to e-mail addresses, Facebook, twitter. Develop a welcome pack for new volunteers. Establish a dedicated notice board in the reception area of the centre to promote volunteering opportunities within the club.

Club Volunteer Co-ordinator

Resources / cost

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Increase the number of volunteers and support them to develop and run the club / facility.

Objectives Increase the number and diversity of new volunteers in the club.

Time Scale Ongoing

Actions

Responsibility

Resources / cost

Develop an effective PR campaign via local press / radio / TV.

Club Press Officer

£250 / month

Run British Gymnastics Helpers Award.

RDO

Work with CSP, volunteer Durham and local schools / FE / HE institutions to promote volunteering opportunities.

Club’s Development Officer

Club to pay for all volunteers taking awards

Target a wider range of community groups to volunteer. Ensure those working with children are aware of child protection policies and issues.

Annually

Ensure new volunteers who will be working with children have attended the ‘Child Protection Awareness’ course.

Club’s Development Officer

Club to pay

* Names have been changed

What did we get for 2012? 50% course fees for four Volunteer coaches (£1000) Developed a mentorship Programme for volunteer Coaches at grass roots and Elite level – funding Support £1000 used to put on two Mentorship workshops and Invest in a club mentor.

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Volunteers

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We use every opportunity to tell our story, through… ◦ Editorial media - press, TV, radio, internet ◦ Exhibitions, sponsorship, competitions, direct mail ◦ Audio/visual, press trips, publications, conferences, public speaking ◦ Digital and social media

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Club Saved by volunteers! The Next Generation Elite Gymnasts Medal Winners Raising Funds Lets Get Gold Acropolis Launch Awards Charity Patron

In October 2011 Deerness Gymnastics Academy was saved from closure with the support of volunteers who now help to run the leisure centre. Volunteers

The future of the club depends on recruiting new members and volunteers. An emphasis has been placed on gaining coverage for all levels of gymnastics not just elite and promoting our volunteers in all articles.

As a charitable body raising funds and run by volunteers is vital and assisted by publicity.

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The PR Campaign has met or exceeded all of its objectives. ◦ The campaign has generated over 80 articles in print and 6 broadcast features in 14 months. ◦ DGA has been featured in the sports, news and lifestyle sections of the regional media as well as TV and radio and some national publications. ◦ New leads have generated income for the club.

◦ The number of volunteers has increased. ◦ Membership at the club has increased.