Volunteering and London 2012
Volunteering will be at the heart of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, embodying the Olympic ideals of Friendship, Respect and Excellence and the Paralympic values of Courage, Determination, Inspiration and Equality.
While you anticipate the launch of the official Games-time volunteering programme in Summer 2010, here is some useful information for people like you who know that their time and skills could be really useful now to your community, but just don’t know what to do or where to start.
Volunteering can help to improve your CV with new skills, meet new people, improve your health and wellbeing and is a great opportunity to give something back. The Mayor of London has set up this website to help Londoners find out more about volunteering.
Simply enter your London postcode in the search box on the right hand side of the page, and browse through a huge variety of volunteering opportunities in your area.
If you want up to the minute advice and would like to speak to a volunteering expert then go to the London borough searchable map and find your local Volunteer Centre.
There are so many ways to give your time. For example:
- BCTV
Take part in a local environmental day - Volunteer Reading Help
Read with a child to help improve their literacy - Digital mentoring in London
Guide an older person to learn how to use the internet - London Detainee Support Group
Be a volunteer visitor at a detention centre - Greater London Volunteering
Help out at a local event - Pro-active London
Sporty or not, help out your local sports club
Of course, if the time is not right for you at the moment to get involved why not register with TimeBank and you will receive online newsletters containing one off and other innovative volunteering opportunities and ideas so that you can stay involved as your interests or circumstances change.
More information on the official London 2012 volunteering programme
Other London 2012 opportunities
The Wave of Friendship Volunteer Exchange Programme
The Wave of Friendship programme is part of a larger initiative called People Making Waves, a four year programme to develop and celebrate volunteering activity ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which also aims to create 'waves' of connections between London and Scotland.
The Big Opportunity Direct is a new help-line and e-mail service to help London's voluntary and community sector make the most of opportunities to shape the best ever Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London in 2012.
London 2012 Trailblazer programme
Volunteers play an essential part in ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic Games organised by the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) run as smoothly and successfully as possible. In order to make this happen, LOCOG will not only need volunteers at Games-time but also in the lead up to the big event. And LOCOG is looking for more volunteers to join its pre-Games volunteer programme and experience the day-to-day excitement of working for London 2012.
These individuals, known as Trailblazers, will work across various departments in the Canary Wharf offices one day a week, undertaking a variety of roles such as administration support, helping with the organising of events and data entry support. Trailblazers will need a wide range of skills, including a positive attitude, good communication skills, flexibility, commitment and a friendly attitude.
For more information about this pre-Games volunteering programme, including minimum requirements for Trailblazers, please visit london2012.com/trailblazers.
