Blog: “The value of good volunteers is immeasurable."
Since 2016, Get Out Get Active (GOGA) has supported disabled and non-disabled people across the UK to get active together. Now, after the programme officially came to an end in Thanet in 2020, its legacy and important work lives on.
This week is Volunteers’ Week, a time to celebrate the contribution millions of people who make a difference through volunteering. We caught up with Sarah, from Your Leisure in Thanet, to see how GOGA is continuing to support their volunteers.
“At the start of the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme in 2016, we worked closely with Volunteering Matters to design Community Activator positions. Taking individual skills and people’s interests, we made the positions flexible to fit our volunteer opportunities. We developed a volunteer pathway and process to create a welcoming induction for each individual volunteer.
Being part GOGA we have found, and continue to find, new ways to bring disabled and non-disabled people together to be active within our leisure centres and out in the community.
Through GOGA, we receive amazing insight and support from various organisations on recruiting and supporting volunteers. This helps us to have real success with volunteers, especially in our project. Wheelability provides a variety of fully accessible bikes for disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy cycling together along the Minnis Bay Coast.
Our customers and volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. We encourage our volunteers to manage the Wheelability project how they see fit, to whatever level they want. They know we are always there to support them when needed.
Since GOGA started in 2016, our management and recognition of volunteer’s and their journey with us has improved. The value of good volunteers is immeasurable. We couldn’t do it without them. They play a massive part in making our community projects a success!”
This story is part of our Volunteers’ Week series showcasing how GOGA volunteers are supporting and engaging some of the UK’s least active disabled and non-disabled people in inclusive and fun activities.
About Get Out Get Active
Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Activity Alliance is the creator and lead partner. The programme is funded by Spirit of 2012, Sport England and London Marathon Charitable Trust.
Find out more about Get Out Get Active here.