What is it like to volunteer at two marathons?
Activity Alliance supports event organisers to ensure the smooth running of wheelchair races for both the London and Manchester Marathons. A fantastic team of volunteers work throughout the event behind the scenes, making sure those racing can focus on just that.
Anna is part of our Include to Improve team. Back in April she gave up her time to spend two weekends with the team of volunteers. As part of Volunteers' Week we caught up with her to see what the experience involved.
Why did you get involved with the volunteering team for the marathons?
"Having been a spectator for many years, alongside the occasional participant, I've always loved going along to events. Seeing people achieve things they didn't feel possible is both amazing and inspiring, so I jumped at the chance to be part of the volunteering team."
What was your role within the team?
My main role was to support the movement of athletes, day and race chairs to the right locations at the right time. This may seem straight forward but it's logistics I'd never fully considered or comprehended before! It is also essential so the athletes can just focus on the race itself rather than the co-ordination of everything else that goes with race day.
What was the atmosphere like?
There certainly was a buzz! It was such a friendly and supportive environment for both the athletes and volunteers with great teamwork and camaraderie. Cities like Manchester and London really come alive when a mass participation event is in town. The crowds, and thankfully the sunshine, really bring out the best in people which is brilliant to see.
Were there any challenges during the events?
On the day everything went very smoothly, everyone and everything ended up where they intended to be so I would say a success. There were plenty of happy and exhausted athletes receiving their well-deserved medals when they crossed the line and they were very thankful for the role we played.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering at an inclusive sporting event?
I would absolutely recommend it. You learn so much more than just event management and really gain an understanding of how best to ensure events and day-to-day life can be made more inclusive. I met some incredible people and their families and you get to experience the events from a perspective that not many others get to. Anything I didn't know, I just asked the athlete what worked best for them or other volunteers directly. Everyone is friendly, helpful and approachable. You are genuinely helping others which for me is the main motivation factor for getting involved.
Do experiences like this influence your work at Activity Alliance?
Very much so. These experiences provide a completely different perspective and an opportunity to see successful inclusive activity in action. As part of my role at Activity Alliance, I want to create more opportunities for disabled people to take part in, volunteer in, and work within sport and physical activity and through these experiences, I’ve gained a much wider understanding of what effective inclusion looks like in practice. I can bring those learnings into my work to better plan and deliver programmes that meet the needs of disabled people.
What was the highlight of the experience for you?
Getting the chance to be right in the midst of things, seeing behind the scenes and the opportunity to witness athletes at the top of their game. It was much more enjoyable than running round the route!
