Volunteer

Unable to swim or just don’t fancy it, but still keen to get involved? A small army of dedicated volunteers is required to help make the Yorkshire Swimming Festival a day to remember! 

Who can volunteer?

Anyone. We encourage everyone to get involved and volunteer and we will endeavor to tailor a role to suit your needs. Children aged 15 and under will be required to be accompanied by an adult.

What skills to do you need?

  • Plenty of enthusiasm
  • Ability to work as a team
  • Good communication skills 

How much time do you need to donate?

On average, you will be needed for 4 to 5 hours. You will be given details on when and where to meet your senior marshal on the day.

There are variety of roles for our volunteers to get involved with, here are a few;

  • Advising participants
  • Managing the baggage store
  • Helping with registration
  • Handing out goody bags

Benefits of volunteering

  • Build confidence and self esteem
  • Meet new people
  • Feel part of a community 
  • Help local and national charities
  • Improve employability 

How you will be supported

Once you have registered you or your group to take part in the event as a volunteer, you will receive a confirmation email including a contact should you have any further queries. As the event progresses, you will be allocated a role on event day and will also be informed who will be the Senior Marshal who will be looking after you on the day.  You will be invited to attend a short pre-event briefing on an evening approximately 10 days before the event to obtain some essential event information, meet with your senior marshal and meet your fellow volunteers. If you are part of a group of volunteers, a lead representative will be invited to attend the meeting on your behalf and pass on any information to you directly in readiness for event day.To reward your hardwork and as a token of our appreciation, you will receive a goody bag, refreshments through the day and huge THANK YOU from the Swim For All team.

Volunteer FAQs

I work full time – Will volunteering opportunities fall outside of conventional working hours?

We fully appreciate that our volunteers often work full time and are taking time out of busy lives to help us. That’s why our volunteering and briefings typically take place in the evening or on weekends. There are various organizations that actively encourage their employees to take place in volunteering as an important part of their Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes. For example, some companies may offer a day off in lieu in exchange for a day’s volunteering. The best way to find this out is to check with your company’s Human Resources department.

I’m still a student, how can I benefit from volunteering?

 

Volunteering can count as an accreditation for all kinds of qualifications, such as vocational studies and training schemes such as Duke of Edinburgh Award, plus much more. If we can help we are more than happy to consider working with groups to help them with their accreditations.
If there is something specific that you, or a group would like to get involved in on event day, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
 
How do I register my interest to volunteer?

All you need to do is register online for the event you or your group would like to volunteer for.  The online registration process is very simple and will require you to input some basic details which will allow us to keep in contact with you in the lead up to the event.

When should I register my interest to volunteer?

It would be great if you could register online as soon as you are able so that we can ensure  you have all the information your require and so that you can receive regular updates from us.

What information will I receive once I have registered my interest?

You will receive confirmation that you have enrolled by email (if you have supplied an email address) which will include a welcome note and our contact details should you wish to ask any further questions or should the details you supply change.

What will I be expected to do on event day?

 

Volunteers will be asked to meet with their previously allocated Senior Marshal from about 07:15am on event day where they will be fully briefed with the rest of their team and allocated a marshal position for the duration of the event. 
Volunteers finish time is dependent on the area in which they are marshalling but typically will be till about 12:00 noon. There are a number of opportunities open to volunteers who are interested in assisting at our events.  Typical volunteer roles might include the following;
Pre-Race Volunteers – Hundreds of competitors require a lot of organisation and volunteers will be invaluable in helping to direct and advise participants. 
Registration –  Competitors must register prior to participating in the event in order to receive their Swimming Cap and Timing Chip. 
Baggage – A small team of volunteers will be required to ensure that the participant baggage store is managed effectively. 
End of Race Volunteers – Volunteers will be on hand to congratulate participants on the completion of the race, and give any assistance required. They will also ensure finishers move efficiently through the finish area receiving their mementoes, etc.
 
Will I be required to complete any health and safety training?

All volunteers will receive appropriate health and safety training on the day of the event. Run For All will provide your Senior Marshal with suitable equipment for your role.  You will not have access to dangerous equipment at any time.

I want to volunteer with my family/friend, can we be located in the same area?

We try our best to place families and friends together within volunteering groups. If you find you are separated from a friend, please contact us and we try our best to arrange for you to be in the same group. Similarly, if you are volunteering as a family, please register as a group to ensure you are placed in the same area.

How to get involved

To generously give up a few hours of your time, please email us to register your interest or fill in the registration form.