Workforce development

What were our objectives?
Cheshire and Warrington County Sports Partnership wanted to find safe and rewarding volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16 to 24–years in sport which would encourage them to continue volunteering, with increased skills and qualifications, into later life.

What did we do?
Working through the Millennium Volunteer programme young people are supported and mentored through 200 hours of active volunteering and their details are then placed on a coach and volunteer database through which they receive regular information regarding further training, events and employment opportunities. The project recognises the key roles local partners and agencies can play in developing pathways for sports coaching and volunteering.

What were the results?

• So far, over 61 per cent of young people involved in the project have reached 100 hours or more of volunteering
  
• The project has resulted in an increase in the number of available coaches across the county who have had hands-on experience of coaching
  
• As a direct result of more volunteers sporting initiatives that have been recently introduced include:
  
  Disability football sessions in Northwich
  
  A local GP referral scheme
  
  Clubmark accreditation for a local cricket club
  
  Development of the CSP’s own website—www.sportcheshire.org
  

“I really wanted to use my experience and skills to improve provision and facilities for junior cricket. In return, volunteering allowed me to demonstrate my organisational strengths," says Millennium Volunteer, Peter Brooks.

Richard Newton, cricket development officer for Cheshire Cricket, comments: “Peter was a major force for the development of junior cricket. He has also become a key figure in helping the club achieving Clubmark. He is a credit to the Millennium Volunteer programme.”