Thanking your amazing volunteers

by Jennie Arthur

Senior project manager, Sport England

At a time when sports clubs and organisations have faced unprecedented challenges, the invaluable role of those who give up their time to support our sector has never been more apparent.

With many clubs and organisations beginning to reopen their doors once again, it's the perfect time to appreciate the amazing efforts of our sector’s volunteers; to say thank you for working so tirelessly to keep their clubs and community organisastions going, and for going the extra mile.

From helping to make their club Covid-safe to enable a return to play and supporting people to remain active through online coaching sessions, to reaching out to support their wider communities through food banks, delivering medicines, or checking in on neighbours, sports volunteers have gone above and beyond.

They've embraced the opportunity to step up in these times of need, to give something back and to make good use of their time.

The video audio consists of voiceovers from Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE and a mix of participants from different sports. There is a stock backing track that is not an identifiable song.

Baroness Grey-Thompson is shown with a window in the background as the video begins. She addresses the camera.

Baroness Grey-Thompson: We know that the coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult and challenging time. But we also know this period has brought out the best in us too.

Footage of a Zoom call run by a sports club for its participants is shown. This changes to an image of a volunteer getting ready to deliver a food parcel, then another volunteer who has just delivered a food parcel at someone’s front door, before returning to the Zoom call footage.

Baroness Grey-Thompson’s voiceover continues: It’s been a time of kindness, of giving, and of selflessness where people have further stepped up to help their communities. Sport and physical activity has been hit really hard, which means the invaluable role that volunteers, like you, play has never been more important. To the millions of people helping grassroots sport and activity come through these difficult times, we want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you.

During the voiceover, footage of children taking part in rugby activities from before the pandemic is seen, which then changes to adults taking part in rugby before the pandemic.

A photo of a coach talking to a number of young female football players on a pitch is shown.

A photo of a volunteer helping a participant is shown. They are holding a large and small ball.

A photo of a boy and girl on adapted bikes is shown with a volunteer in the background.

The video then returns to Baroness Grey-Thompson addressing the camera, before a photo of a young female boxing participant is shown holding a thank you sign.

Baroness Grey-Thompson’s voiceover continues: Thank you for working tirelessly to keep your clubs, groups and sports activities going.

The camera pans across the screen as photographs of participants from different sports are seen holding up thank you signs. Some participants are holding sports equipment.

Thank you for your incredible dedication and commitment.

A photo of a female cyclist is shown holding up a thank you sign.

Thank you for supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of people everywhere.

A photo of a female participant on a sports pitch holding a thank you sign is shown. The sign has a hockey stick and ball on it.

By going the extra mile, and by not giving up, you’ve made a real difference.

The camera pans across the screen as new pictures of participants holding up thank you signs are displayed. Some participants are holding equipment too.

You’ve improved the lives and helped your communities when they needed you most.

A photo of a participant wearing a riding hat and gloves and holding a thank you sign is shown. She is standing next to a horse.

A photo of a male participant holding a thank you sign is shown. He is standing in a garden.

We know it’s not been easy, and that there’s still a long way to go.

Footage of another Zoom session is shown, with people clapping and waving to the camera.

A photo of a female participant wearing a rugby top and holding a thank you sign is shown.

Baroness Grey-Thompson’s voiceover continues: The familiar sights and sounds of the sport and activities we love will soon return, and our clubs and groups will thrive again. But that can only happen thanks to people like you.

Video footage of a hockey participant hitting a ball in their garden is shown.

Video footage of two people playing squash is shown.

Video footage of a club’s exercise class is shown.

Footage of a female tennis player training is shown. The player is a wheelchair user.

The video then returns to Baroness Grey-Thompson addressing the camera, before the camera pans across the screen again to show multiple photos of participants holding up thank you signs. Some are dressed in sports kit.

A photo of a young female participant holding a thank you sign is shown.

Baroness Grey-Thompson’s voiceover ends: So please, keep giving whatever time you can – and keep making the difference. Thank you. From all of us.

A photo of a woman wearing a red t-shirt holding a thank you sign is shown.

A female participant is shown. She addresses the camera as a caption comes up in the top left of the screen saying “A message from participants”.

Participant 1: To the volunteers who work so hard to keep our clubs and groups going…

The video changes to a male participant addressing the camera, before changing to an image of a participant from a shooting club holding a thank you sign as the second participant continues talking.

Participant 2: We want to say a massive thank you. Because of you, we have something to return to…

The image changes to a female participant holding a thank you sign. The video then cuts to a young female participant who addresses the camera.

Participant 3: And we will be able to take part in the sports and activities we love once again.

The video changes to a male participant who address the camera. As he talks, the video shows another image of a female participant wearing sports kit and holding a thank you sign.

Participant 4: During this difficult period, you have given us hope and kept us connected and made us feel excited about coming back. Thank you for everything you have done…

A photo of another female participant holding a thank you sign is then shown, before a male participant wearing sports kit is shown addressing the camera:

Participant 5: And for all that you continue to do.

The video changes to a female participant who address the camera directly, and also uses sign language to sign some of her words while talking.

Participant 6: You’re amazing, we can’t wait to see you again.

The screen fades out to a montage of photos, all show participants holding thank you signs. Lots of different sports kits are being worn and different equipment is being held showing that the participants come from a wide variety of sports and activities.

The screen then shows a new page, displaying the logos of:

Active Partnerships Network
Angling Trust
Archery GB
England Athletics
Badminton England
Baseball Softball UK Basketball England
Boccia England
Bowls Development Alliance
England Boxing
British American Football Association
British Canoeing, England
England and Wales Cricket Board
British Cycling
British Fencing
The Football Association
Goalball UK
England Golf
British Gymnastics
England Handball
England Hockey
British Ice Skating
British Judo Association
England Lacrosse
Pentathlon GB
British Mountaineering Council
England Netball
British Orienteering
Riding for the Disabled Association
Rounders England
British Rowing
Rugby Football League
Rugby Football Union
Royal Yachting Association
British Shooting
Sport for Development Coalition
England Squash
Swim England
Table Tennis England
Lawn Tennis Association
Triathlon England
Volleyball England
British Water Ski & Wakeboard
British Weightlifting
British Wheelchair Basketball
British Wrestling Association

The Sport England, Club Matters Programme logo is then shown, with the Club Matters website and Sport England website addresses included below.

In recognition of their amazing efforts and support, we've joined forces with partners from across the sector to produce a collaborative message of thanks to those who have supported grassroots sports during the last 12 months.

Led by Baronness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the above video captures heartfelt messages from participants across dozens of sports showing their appreciation for all those who have stepped up to support their communities, and help grassroots sport come through these difficult times.

The last 12 months have been an incredibly challenging time for the sport sector, but without the support of huge numbers of volunteers who have stepped up, things would have been significantly harder.

And thanks to the millions of people who continue to give their time to support their clubs and groups, there is reason to be optimistic that grassroots sports will thrive again, enabling people to benefit from all the great things we know sport and physical activity can provide.

To all those who volunteer, thank you. Please keep giving whatever time you can, and keep making the difference.

If you're involved in an organisation that relies on volunteers, why not share our video on social media? It'd be great to let everyone who volunteers in sport and physical activity know how appreciated they are.

Watch on YouTube

Thanking your amazing volunteers

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