August marks the start of Sport Month as part of the Year of the Volunteer celebrations. Nearly six million volunteers contribute to sport in England every year and nearly half of all young people involved in volunteering work within sport.

The National Team Relay Triathlon Championships and Nottingham Triathlon take place in Nottingham on 6th/7th August and will see 2000 triathletes descend on the city. The event will also involve around 60 volunteers who will give their time freely to ensure the success of the event.

Alison Large and family from Rise Park in Nottingham have been volunteering at local triathlon and swimming events for over ten years and will be a key part of the team organising the National Team Relays this weekend. Like many people, she got involved through her children who were participating in sport. “The children no longer compete in triathlon but we all like to help out as a family. We’ll do anything that’s needed to make an event successful.”

Tim Garfield, Sport England’s Regional Director in the East Midlands recognises the valuable contribution that volunteers make to sport in the region. “Without volunteers sport in this country simply wouldn’t happen. Volunteers offer their time, effort and expertise to run clubs, manage teams, run facilities and organise any number of activities as well as making sure that events run smoothly. We’re keen to support them and take the time to thank volunteers for their time and commitment.”

2005 is the Year of the Volunteer, a year-long celebration of the amazing work volunteers do and a call to action to get more and more of us volunteering.

Aims of the Year of the Volunteer are:

• Thank volunteers everywhere for their time and commitment
• Celebrate and raise the profile of the work volunteers are doing nationwide
• Increase the number of volunteers, particularly individuals from marginalised groups and young people
• Open up more volunteering opportunities in the public and voluntary sector