Dundee Academy of Sport
Volunteer Programme
Dundee Academy of Sport Volunteer Programme
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer within the Dundee Academy of Sport project. Our project is based around using sport as a context for learning to widen access to education and develop the local sporting workforce.To achieve this, our project has various sections which offer opportunities for volunteering and skill development. Please read on to find out why you should volunteer, where you could volunteer within our project and how your skills and studies could be put to the test through your involvement.
Why volunteer?
There are lots of reasons why you should consider volunteering:
- For yourself:
Volunteering is great for your future employability. It allows you to try out potential career choices, get recorded experience, build professional networks and discover your workplace strengths. Having a voluntary role alongside studying can help you show that you have learnt to manage a work/life balance, and volunteering is also great for your social life. It can introduce you to new friends, give you ‘down time' from high pressure courses and contribute to your wellbeing as a person.
- For others:
Volunteering provides a resource that some organisations cannot get any other way. If you are passionate about something, be it society, science, culture, the natural world or anything else, volunteering is one of the ways you can really make a difference. If you want a future in a sector you are passionate about, volunteering can raise your awareness of the issues involved, introduce you to the key players and make you into an informed specialist with the power to contribute. You can help promote your passions to others, and on a very basic level you can give something back to those who help us all.
Our Project: The Dundee Academy of Sport
The following is a breakdown of the opportunities to volunteer with the Dundee Academy of Sport project.
- Schools Based Interventions:
Together with partner primary & secondary schools we provide exciting lessons based around sport which link sport to wider learning – imagine learning angles in a badminton lesson, units of measurement through athletics, sociology through investigating gender inequalities in sport, physiology through exercise adaptations or ecology issues through the study of surfing. The Dundee Academy of Sport aims to work with schools to achieve this and is looking for talented individuals to support this work. Therefore if you are looking for an opportunity to learn new skills, enhance your CV or put into practice skills learned during your studies we would like to hear from you.
Whether you are studying computer games design, nursing, sports coaching or business we could have a place for you within our programme. Your studies may not be directly linked to sport but if you have a talent, like working with children and a creative imagination we would welcome your application. We will be looking for talented individuals to support the practical delivery of sessions as well as individuals to design and create engaging lessons in a variety of subjects.
- Summer Camps:
Throughout the summer we will deliver a mixture of summer camp experiences ranging from day long camps through to residential camps which aim to inspire and engage school children to develop a growth mind-set and can do attitude to their life and studies. The summer camps will provide opportunities to take part in exciting sporting activities alongside investigating a variety of educational issues such as the transition from primary to secondary school, decision making for senior pupils and transferable skills.
Therefore we are looking for volunteers that can support this activity through leading sporting activities, assisting in the pastoral care of attendees and being strong role models.
- Student Support:
The academy aims to support the progression of students studying sport atDundee & Angus College through to studying at degree level at Abertay. For many students the change in learning environment can be a daunting challenge. To assist with this transition we will work with students pre and post moving to Abertay,therefore we are looking for experienced students willing to support our work here. This may include acting as a mentor to direct entry students, supporting sessions at the college & university or sharing your own experiences with various cohorts of students.
- Club Development Support:
Within our work we also aim to support the delivery of sport in the wider community through a series of CPD opportunities. To compliment this we are also looking for students volunteers to work within local sports clubs, where potentially you will be able to practise the skills learned through your studies. The opportunities are not limited to sports related degrees – clubs often need support to design and run websites, forums, business support (bookkeeping, marketing, social media presence), 1st aid support, community engagement and so on – if you have a skill and are willing to give up some time you will be well received by the clubs and gain real life on the job experience.
The Volunteering Experience:
Your participation as a volunteer will be flexible with your involvement being based around your availability. Therefore you won’t need to sign yourself up for 10 hours a week but rather a commitment to support the work of the project if and when you can. We would however require you to attend some training prior to volunteering and also as we are working in schools with young children all volunteers would need to be part of the PVG scheme. In return for your commitment to volunteering with the project you will receive:
- some initial training
- opportunities to learn and reflect upon your studies
- Dundee Academy of Sport branded sportswear
- a great experience to include in your CV
- CPD opportunities within sport
If you are still interested we need you to complete the following application form. Please add as much information as possible on your application to allow us to ensure that you gain the best experience possible. We look forward to receiving your application and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions. Further information can be viewed at:
Volunteer Application Form:
All information provided will be classed as confidential. Please ensure that you answer all questions.
Name: / Gender:Contact Telephone Number: / Email Address:
Postal address:
Date of Birth: / Nationality:
Emergency contact information:
Name: / Relationship
with you: / Contact Telephone
Number:
Disability Information:
Please give details of any disability you have which may impact on your volunteering
Please indicate which part of the Dundee Academy of Sport project would you like to volunteer for:
School Based Interventions / Summer Camps / Student Support
/ Club Development
Qualifications/Skills: Please detail any particular qualifications/skills you have that you feel are relevant for this role (eg, coaching qualifications / coaching experience, specialised subject knowledge, experience of working with children, IT Skillsetc.).
Why do you think you are the right person to support the work of the Dundee Academy of Sport? Please describe how your studies could be utilised in the project.
References: Please provide contact details of 2 individuals willing to act as a character referee for you.
Reference 1: / Name: / Position: / Email: / Phone no:
Reference 2: / Name: / Position: / Email: / Phone no:
Declaration: / Any volunteers within the project will need to be members of the PVG scheme (once selected to be part of the project you will be supported in this application. Please answer the following questions:-
Have you been convicted of a criminal offence in the past 5 years?
Do you have any criminal proceedings pending?
Please read this section on completion of all parts of the form: / I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information provided on this form is correct. I understand that deliberately giving false of incomplete information would disqualify me from the appointment and make me liable for dismissal. Submission of these forms indicates that you accept this.
Please return this form to
For further information on the work of the Dundee Academy of Sport please visit or follow us on twitter @DunAcadofSport