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Dear <<First Name>>,
As you read this edition of Volunteer Matters, 2015 will be drawing to a close and it has been another year of highs and lows. We have been delighted to hear and share the news of so many Special Olympics GB volunteers around the country who have been nominated for awards in their local communities and many have walked away with trophies held high – our congratulations to you all – the recognition you have received is richly deserved!
On a more sombre note, we have also had to say a fond farewell to a number of volunteers, including Jed Renilson and Anne Calvert, who have passed away during the year. They dedicated so much of their time and energy to Special Olympics GB and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with their families and friends as we approach the festive season.
Gaye Barber
Director of Volunteering & Community Engagement
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Did you know that 5th December is International Volunteer Day?
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Volunteers founded Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) in 1978, and they remain the heart and soul of the organisation. Today over 3,000 volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales directly deliver our charity’s mission to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual (learning) disabilities.
We would like to recognise, celebrate and thank all of our Special Olympics volunteers who are making a difference to our athletes and communities, in ways big and small, every day of the year.
To find our more from the United Nations Volunteers site - click here
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Spotlight on Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP)
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MATP still remains a bit of a mystery to many of our clubs. It is a specialist training programme for athletes with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), structured slightly differently to other sports but still observing the main mission and philosophy of the organisation.
MATP demonstrates our commitment to providing regular training opportunities to people of all ages and all abilities more than any other programme.
The key difference is that in place of competition, MATP athletes take part in Challenge Days which provide an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and their coaches to demonstrate the progress they have made in training. There are the customary awards presentations, where MATP athletes are presented with Challenge medals.
In August, SOGB held a two-day MATP event incorporating a Challenge Day, Come and Try and its first ever MATP National Conference in Sheffield – host city the 2017 National Summer Games.
Lead by Niamh Reilly, the event was extremely well received and brought together current MATP practitioners and representatives from clubs around the country who have expressed an interest in starting MATP. It was also designed as a test event to help shape our plans and preparations for MATP at the National Summer Games and was a great learning opportunity.
Niamh explained:
“We are very proud of our MATP athletes and how much time and effort they put into their motor skill training. Because of this, we always encourage friends, teachers, parents, carers, family members and anyone else who knows the athletes to come along to cheer on and support, as well as to learn more about what MATP is. Our MATP athletes train with their coaches for about two-three months on their chosen motor skills and which they then showcase at the Challenge Day event.
It is an exciting time for Special Olympics GB as we continue to introduce and develop more meaningful sporting activities and opportunities for individuals with PMLD and complex needs".
Click to find out more about MATP.
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Didn't she do well!
To close a very successful and enjoyable two days at our Sheffield MATP event, Norma Hyde from SO Sandwell was presented with a special award to acknowledge her outstanding contribution to the growth and development of MATP in Special Olympics GB
Norma receiving her award, with Gaye Barber and Niamh Reilly
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Want that something special for that special someone?
With Christmas fast approaching, around 27 shopping days in fact, you may be looking for that perfect stocking filler, or maybe at a loss for which Christmas cards to buy. Well, we have the solution - visit our online shop - and check out our promotional items for the volunteer in your life , perhaps the ever popular Christmas jumper!
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Volunteer Coordinators Networking Day
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On Saturday 21st November we had the first Special Olympics Volunteer Coordinator Networking Day where 5 Volunteer Coordinators from different Special Olympics Clubs came together to share ideas and experiences.
The main objective from this first Networking Day was to collate those ideas and experiences and produce a Volunteer Coordinator Online Toolkit which will have a range of Recruitment and Retentions tips and ideas to help Volunteer Coordinators in their clubs.
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Left to Right: Terry Stanton (Special Olympics Cornwall), Lionel Barnard (National Volunteer Office), Jane Friend (Special Olympics Surrey), Julie Cleaver (Special Olympics Essex) and Chris Lane (Special Olympics St Albans). Also at the meeting but not pictured were John Patrick (Special Olympics Croydon) and Gearoid Mitchell (National Volunteer Manager)
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In the future we hope to have “Regional” Volunteer Coordinator Networking Days in different parts of Great Britain to help support the Special Olympics Clubs within that area with their Volunteer Recruitment and Retention.
Volunteer, Chris Lane said:
“It was a really interesting day and great to meet Gearoid and the other Volunteer Coordinators.”
Gearoid Mitchell, SOGB Volunteer Manager, said:
“It was great to come together and discuss some of the challenges that clubs face and work out solutions specific to each club. This Network will become a very important part of the National Volunteer Programme.”
For further information about these Networking Days please email Gearoid Mitchell, National Volunteer Manager.
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Fleeced!
We have now had in the results from our 2nd annual Volunteer Surveys, and we would like to thank everybody who took part.
One key finding was the amount of hours our volunteers put in, and not just for Special Olympcs but other volunteer organisations as well.
To see a summary of the results, click here.
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And for those who took part in our prize draw to win a limited edition Special Olympics grey fleece, we are pleased to announce the winning names:
- Kevin Milstead (Event Volunteer)
- Alan Stockdale (SO Plymouth & District)
- Claire Moyle (SO Worthing
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And then there were seven.......
There is change afoot within the Special Olympics GB office located in Banbury - it is now “home” to the much broader areas of the Volunteering & Community Engagement department.
It will still be the main hub of the national volunteer programme, but, due to an expansion of the programmes to be offered by SOGB will now include the following: Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP), Families Programme (including Siblings network) Young Athlete Programme (YAP) and Athlete Leadership.
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We are very excited about this new development and will keep you informed of the progress being made in future editions of VM and via the SOGB website.
In the meantime, for a full list of our Volunteering & Community Engagement team, including our new members – most of whom have only been with us since August, please click here
Although it is early days and we are still in the planning phase for most of the new areas, the team will be more than happy to hear from you should you require any further information about their role and responsibilities and how you can get involved in the future.
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Have we got your details?
Most of our volunteers whose roles require it are already signed up to have background checks carried out, either by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) for our English and Welsh volunteers, or Disclosure Scotland (PVG scheme) for our Scottish volunteers.
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Robust DBS and PVG processes helps to support our Safeguarding & Welfare policy, ensuring the safety of both our athletes and our volunteers.
As part of this, "it is important that SOGB sees sight of all certificates so that we are in a position to provide assurance that all our volunteers for whom it is necessary have had a check carried out" - explained Gaye.
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So if you have not yet sent us a copy of your DBS or PVG certificate, please can you do so as soon as possible.
We only record that we have had sight of the certificate, and all copies received are then destroyed.
For more information, please contact us at the National Volunteer office.volunteer@sogb.org.uk
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In our next edition....
Coming up in the March 2016 edition of your VM:
- The Power of PR and the media
- Report from the 2016 SOGB AGM
- The contribution of our Athlete-Volunteers
- Introducing our new Families Programme
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We would also like to invite contributions from around the country - tell us what's happening in your club.
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You might be interested to read...
Other e-newsletters produce in the national office and covering other aspects of our organisation and activities:
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Please share VM with your fellow volunteers!
If you have enjoyed this edition of VM please check if other volunteers in your club are receiving it. If not, it may mean we have an incorrect or out of date email address, or no email address at all. Just one email to volunteer@sogb.org.uk and we will put that right for the next edition. Thank you!
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