According to a national survey, nearly a million people in Wales are keen to volunteer to play their part in helping grassroots sport bounce back from the Coronavirus crisis.
There are currently around 10 per cent of people in Wales who are volunteers in sport*, but that number could soon treble as 30% of adults who took part in a survey into exercise habits during lockdown have said that they are likely to volunteer in the next 12 months to support sport and physical activity in Wales.
Lockdown ignites a new enthusiasm for volunteering
The survey, conducted by Savanta ComRes on behalf of Sport Wales, found that people aged 16-34 are the most keen, with 44% of people in that age bracket saying that they are likely to volunteer.
With the population of Wales just over the three million mark, this suggests that around a million people are considering volunteering in sport.
Brian Davies, Chief Executive of Sport Wales said: “We already have thousands of amazing volunteers who are the lifeblood of sport in Wales, and it is wonderful to hear that there is potentially a large group of people who have a new enthusiasm to get involved in some way.
“I know that Mums and Dads across the country are even missing those days on the touchline when the wind is howling and the rain is coming at you sideways! We’ll never again take for granted the amazing benefits of sport and how much we all enjoy it.
“A huge amount of collective work is currently being undertaken towards the safe re-introduction of sport at all levels, and volunteers will be even more important than ever as we strive to protect the sporting opportunities that we have worked so hard to develop in Wales.”
If you’re interested in volunteering, please speak to your local club to find out more about the opportunities that are available. If you run a sports club in Wales and would like to get advice on recruiting and training volunteers, please visit www.clubsolutions.wales to find out more.
Savanta ComRes surveyed 1,007 Welsh adults between 8 and 12 May and the data has been weighted to be demographically representative of Welsh adults 16+ by gender, age and the estimated households with children under 16.
*This statistic is taken from the 2016-17 National Survey for Wales.
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