There is no legal definition of a ‘volunteer' and the word is often used by many different people, to mean different things. However the definition of volunteering used in the 1997 National Survey of Volunteering is "any activity which involves spending time, unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to close relatives, or to benefit the environment". Please note that the word ‘volunteer' within gymnastics includes all coaches, officials, committees, trustees, parent helpers and anyone else who gives their time free of charge.

Volunteering should be based around the following four principles:

•·         Choice - Volunteering must be a choice freely made by individuals

•·         Diversity - Volunteering should be open to all

•·         Reciprocity - Volunteers should benefit from their contribution, for example, gaining useful skills, experience and contacts, socialising and fun

•·         Recognition - Recognition of the value of volunteering and volunteers is implicit

---

Volunteers and the Law

Many club/ organisations are unclear about the legal status of their volunteers and the responsibilities they have towards them. Worries around issues such as benefits and the reimbursement of expenses are perennial concerns. Volunteering England have produced a leaflet summarising the recently published book, Volunteers and the Law. It is a signposting document, leading to sources of further information.  Volunteering England have also produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions with regards to sports volunteers and the law, visit www.volunteering.org.uk

Volunteer Strategy
In recognition of the importance of volunteers to gymnastics, British Gymnastics have developed a Volunteer Strategy, covering the period October 2003 - September 2008. The Strategy aims to build a pathway for young volunteers from school through to clubs and also to recognise those already contributing to Gymnastics as a volunteer. The Strategy has been split into five key areas, shown in the diagram below:

Volunteer Structure	Recruitment	Retention	Recognition & Reward	Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
To ensure that volunteer structures are in place at all levels in gymnastics	To increase the quality & quantity of volunteers involved within gymnastics & trampolining, especially young people (aged 14-25)	To improve & retain the volunteers within gymnastics	To recognise and reward the volunteers in gymnastics	To research further issues in volunteering and to monitor and evaluate the strategy

The key objectives of the strategy are listed below:

• To establish a simple framework of co-ordinated opportunities at a local level, to enable young people and adults to begin and sustain an involvement in leadership and volunteering through gymnastics.
• To recognise the key role that local and regional Gymnastics Associations can play in developing clear pathways of opportunities to train, support and deploy young people and adults into appropriate volunteering activities.
• To work with partner organisations, i.e. BSGA, Sports Councils and the British Sports Trust to support developments and links with PE and School Sport.
• To increase the number and quality of volunteers working within the sport to ensure the long term sustainability of gymnastics structures and clubs.