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Volunteering at the 2012 Games

The closing date for applications to become a volunteer at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has now passed (27 October 2010).

Other ways to get involved

There are other ways to get involved with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. You could also be a Young Games Maker if you are under 18

If you have already applied to be a Games Maker, you can log into the Games Maker zone on the London 2012 website. You’ll find news and updates on the site and you can manage your application online.

Young Games Makers and the Get Set programme

For many of the volunteering roles you will need to be 18 or over by 1 January 2012. However, there will be a Young Games Maker programme for under-18s starting in summer 2011. The London 2012 team will publish more details nearer the time.

In the meantime, you can get involved in ‘Get Set’ - London 2012’s official education programme for schools and colleges across the UK. It encourages 3-19 year olds to learn about the Games and the Olympic and Paralympic values. Get Set offers young people great opportunities, including tours of the Olympic Park, visits from athletes and entry into prize draws.

Financial help for Games Makers (volunteers)

The 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary Scheme is designed to help people become a London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic 'Games Time Volunteer'.

The Scheme has been developed to ensure equality of opportunity, widen the accessibility to applicants and reduce some of the potential barriers that applicants from Northern Ireland could encounter.

When an applicant is successful in being selected to become a Games Maker - there is the expectation from the Games organisers that they commit to the following:

  • ten days volunteering, over a potential three-week period;
  • personally arrange and cover the cost of their journey to any applicable training and Games Time Venue; and
  • personally arrange and cover the cost of their accommodation

The 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary Scheme has been developed to support people with financial outlays which may otherwise be a barrier to them accepting a 2012 Games Maker role.

For every £1,500 a ‘supporter’ (sponsor business/organisation) provides for an individual who wishes to benefit from the Scheme, this amount will be match funded through the Scheme, up to a maximum of £30,000.

Bursaries will be allocated by an independent panel, subject to the criteria. Funding will only be offered to individuals who have successfully completed the application process to be a Games Maker, and so bursaries will not be allocated until November 2011 at the earliest.

Criteria for the 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary Scheme

Criteria for allocation of bursaries have been set and they include:

  • individuals who are in a low income bracket (earning less than £13,000 per annum)
  • individuals who are unemployed
  • individuals who have a disability (this is defined by the Disability Discrimination Act as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”)
  • individuals in full time education
  • individuals who are retired
  • individuals who can demonstrate a long term commitment (over one year) to volunteer involvement (This can include formal volunteering: unpaid voluntary work carried out with, or under the auspices of, an organisation or informal volunteering unpaid or voluntary work carried out outside organisations, often at neighbourhood level, but outside the immediate family)

There may be additional geographical or company specific criteria stipulated by supporters, for example a local authority may wish to support Games Makers from within their own geographic area.

For further information about the Scheme, please contact:

Lyne Greenwood
Volunteer Now
34 Shafesbury Square
BT7 1SH
Telephone: 028 9023 2020
Email: lyne.greenwood@volunteernow.co.uk

Preparing for volunteering

There are a number of ways to find a volunteering opportunity:

Find out more about London 2012

Visit the London 2012 and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) websites for more information about the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

More useful links

Do it online