London 2012 Olympic Volunteering
It may seem like a long way away but it's now less than two years until the games, and it will fly by!
London 2012 will depend on up to 70,000 volunteers to make sure the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games run smoothly and successfully. Volunteers will carry out a range of essential tasks, from spectator services to language services and medical care.
Provide Volunteering have been working hard over the last 6 months to research volunteer opportunities for Queen Mary students to get involved in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. There are also further opportunities to volunteer at Games Time, during July, August and September 2012. These can be categorised into three areas:
· Formal 2012 volunteering opportunities
· Olympic related placements
· Games Inspired one-offs and projects
More details on these can be found at www.providevolunteering.org in the next few weeks, and many of these opportunities will be launching during the first term of 2010-2011. Provide will, of course, keep you updated with these developments.
In the meantime, please see below for an update on two volunteering opportunities that may be of interest to you.
London Ambassadors – (REGISTER NOW!)
In addition to the London 2012 volunteers, the London Development Agency (LDA) is also recruiting 8,000 'London Ambassadors' and they are now encouraging those interested in volunteering for this role to complete the initial registration process. Applications for this role will begin in January 2011, but registration is essential now in order to apply next year.
London Ambassadors will need to be 16-years-old or above by 1 January 2012, have excellent interpersonal skills as well as passion and enthusiasm for London. They will welcome millions of visitors from all over the world to London at 35 sites across the city including transport hubs, live sites and visitor hotspots such as Trafalgar Square.
To find out more and to register visit the website - www.londonambassadors.org.uk
London 2012 Volunteers – Are you a Games Maker? (APPLY FROM 15TH SEPTEMBER)
London 2012 is looking to recruit up to 70,000 volunteers to work directly on the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 as 'Games Makers'. Those with pre-identified specialist skills will be able to apply from 27 July with members of the general public able to apply from 15 September (put this date in your diaries!)
All those interested in applying to be a London 2012 Volunteer must be available to volunteer a minimum of 10 days at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games, or a minimum of 20 days to volunteer at both.
London 2012 Volunteers must also:
• Attend a minimum of three training sessions (around 15 hours in total) before the Games;
• Be eligible to volunteer in line with UK immigration rules;
• Agree to undergo, and then pass, security background checks; and
• Be 18 or over by 1 January 2012.
Further details can be found at www.london2012.com/volunteering
You are able to apply for both of the above mentioned volunteer roles.
The 2012 Games Makers has a minimum commitment of 10 days and the London Ambassadors has a minimum commitment of 6 days – therefore if you have the spare time, you can fit both of these volunteer roles in over July, August and the beginning of September 2012.
If you do not have the availability to volunteer at both, but have applied and been successful for both, this is not a problem. The LDA and LOCOG are working closely together on these two volunteer programmes and are anticipating a small number of drop-outs where this is the case.
If you have any questions on any of the above programmes, 2012 volunteering or volunteering generally, please get in touch with Provide by emailing enquiries@providevolunteering.org
And if you’re already volunteering or involved with a 2012 opportunity, we would love to hear about it!
Register London 2012
Provide Volunteering and the Olympics>>
Current Olympic Volunteering Opportunities>>
Olympic Stadium Aerial View - Copyright London 2012