Volunteering ExperienceFeedback

This has been put together by Voluntary Action •LeicesterShire from a questionnaire sent out several weeks after the Games. We had 151 responses.

Everything here is a quote from a volunteer.•

We’ve tried to pick out some of the best, average •and some critical (when they exist) comments to reflectthespectrumofopinion.

Sum up the experience of Volunteering atthe Special Olympics for you…

“Wow”

“Incredible experience.”

“Memories will last for the rest

of my life.”

“Exhausting, invigorating

but ultimately unbelievable.”

“Athletes were Amazing.”

Experiences of volunteers

Training was competent •interesting and friendly

Good to meet other •volunteers before the event

Wouldhavebeenbeneficial•for all volunteers to be able to opt for preferred venues

Some of the words and •languageusedwasdifficulttounderstand

Handing out of uniforms and •ID was chaotic

More information on the sites •volunteers were working on

Admin for SOL pre-event •needed to be better planned

What were the two best things about volunteering at the Special Olympics?

“Watching the range of competitors compete.The athletes and their

supporters.”

“Really good Atmosphere.Enjoyed everything”

“Being proud of my city”

“Seeing the joy on athletes faces. Looking forward to the

next day.”

“Helping others less fortunatethan me. A good feeling factor.”

Two best things about volunteering SOL

Meeting such dedicated athletes.•

Working with other committed •volunteers.

Helping to make the games a •success.

Meeting special people, •volunteers and athletes.

Terrificteamworkwithinthe•volunteers.

All the great dedicated people.•

Very rewarding watching the •athletes get their awards.

Working with such a caring team.•

The athletes made it a special, •wonderful and friendly environment to work in.

Appreciating the skills that •everyone has irrespective of age, ability or gender.

First time worked with people •havinglearningdifficulties,learneda lot about them.

Being overwhelmed by how much •the coaches had put in preparing the athletes.

Helping and having a smile. •

What were the two worst things about volunteering at the Special Olympics?

“Having to say Goodbye.”

“It was over too soon.”

“Weather, the rain! ”

“Early mornings”

Two worst things about volunteering at SOL

In all 36 comments were received.

The lack of volunteer kit.•

Could have had more hot food.•

Transport costs were •expensive.

Not always organised and not •having calls returned

TooktimetogetID/verification•

Work wasn’t shared equally •between volunteers

Delay in getting athletes to the •opening ceremony

Being treated unfairly by co-•workers

Communication not always good •

Not knowing the schedule of •events during the day

Not knowing when volunteers •wererequiredthereforedifficulttoarrange time off work

Do you have any feedback on the experience of being signed up and trained for the Special

Olympics?

“It all ran brilliantly”

“Training on special needs excellent”

“Quick and easy to be signed up”

“Treated as equals”

Feedback on being signed up and trained

Training was competent •interesting and friendly

Good to meet other •volunteers before the event

Wouldhavebeenbeneficial•for all volunteers to be able to opt for preferred venues

Some of the words and •languageusedwasdifficultto understand

Handing out of uniforms and •ID was chaotic

More information on the sites •volunteers were working on

Admin for SOL pre-event •needed to be better planned

Do you have any feedback on how you were managed/co-ordinated during the actual

Games week?

“We had lots of fun”

“Warm enthusiastic welcome”

“Plenty of information”

“Coordinators were brilliant”

Any feedback on how you were managed/coordinated during the games

Management and coordinators •was excellent and professional

Team coordinators and •venue managers were always accessible

Encouraged to implement own •ideas

Warm and enthusiastic •welcome

Good leadership•

Always given feedback•

Some of the managers had too •many volunteers

Thefirstdaywashectic•

Equestrian event needs full •risk assessment and specialist volunteers

First day disorganised•

Information available across •venues varied

Rotation of jobs good•

Always knew who was in •charge

If money was no object what could be done differently at the next Special Olympics?

“More media coverage”

“Reduce the entry fee to competitors”

“More publicity”

“Celebrities to open event”

If money was no object what could be done differently

Better spectator viewing •facilities

Interactive screens•

More publicity outside of •local area

More evening social events•

Travel information and maps •for public transport need to be better publicised

More selection of food for •volunteers

Different coloured uniforms •for VVTM coordinators and volunteers

There were 40 different responses to the question

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